Dining at La Piazza: One of the Oldest Traditional Italian Restaurants in Delhi

La Piazza opened in the year 1994 at one of the first Five Star properties of the city, Hyatt Regency Delhi. Being almost as old as the person writing this article, the restaurant surely has developed a loyal patronage of not only the hotel’s regular guests but also of the city’s connoisseurs and Italian food enthusiasts.Their USP apart from the sumptuous food, has also been the exquisite wine collection, which till date is one of the best ones in the city. We were there a couple of days back, to try out the latest additions to the La Piazza Menu

About The La Piazza Chefs

Chef Alessandro Sandrolini, hails from Bologna and has been with La Piazza for more than a decade now. Hence, he is indeed the man who brings the traditional Bolognese delights to the table for a rich and authentic experience. On the other hand, Executive Chef Ivan Chieregatti hails all the way from Milan, bringing more than 20 years of seasoned culinary experience which could easily be seen in the depth of the Italian flavors at La Piazza.

La Piazza’s popularity can be seen from the fact that even on a day which other restaurateurs would call dead, this five-star Italian fine diner was running with a full house.

A lot of new flavor combinations, be it for salads, or for pizzas and seafood, have been added to the La Piazza menu, and each dish has its own personality and a flavor profile which could be seen coming from the Italian hometowns of Chef Alessandro and Chef Ivan. Here some of the dishes we found the tastiest;

Spinach and Ricotta Croquettes

Crunchy fried fritters filled with spinach and ricotta cheese served with a sweet pear-based dipping sauce. This appetizer is surely going to appease your palate.

Spinach Lasagna with Goat Cheese;

Cheesy baked lasagna with the goodness of healthy ingredients like Spinach and Goat Cheese (imparting its own subtle, aromatic flavor).

Prawns and calamari

A Seafood lover’s delight, the high quality of calamari and prawns, crispy texture, seasoned with Italian herbs and a hint of lemony flavors make this one a must try dish from the new La Piazza menu.

Pizza with Rocket Leaves and Shrimp

Pizza, the Italian way is best enjoyed without a lot of toppings. A perfectly baked crust, mozzarella topped with the finest quality rocket leaves and shrimps. Other simplistic yet scrumptious variants included classics like Basil with Olives.

Bolognese Grilled Cake

Cakes were always baked delights for me until I tried the Bolognese ‘Grilled’ cake at La Piazza. It was served with a creamy custard sauce that complemented the texture of this cube-shaped cake which had a crispy and slightly charred outer texture. Very unique and definitely delicious.

The range and quality of desserts was spectacular and is perhaps one of the highlights of the new menu. If you’re up for something very unconventional for your palate, you can try the Pizza Gelato (yes, a Pizza flavored ice cream). But do so only if you’re game for this acquired taste you probably have never experienced in a dessert. Otherwise, for those of you in no mood for an experiment, there are a plethora of options for all of you with a sweet tooth. My favorite gelato has to be the raspberry flavor.

Other delights include; Espresso Parfait, Mud cake with Banan gelato, and Ricotta cheese cake. Feast your eyes, foodies!

Tomato Risotto

While going Gourmet, the Chefs have also ensured to retain the comforting delights like the one you see in the picture below. The tangy and well-cooked tomato risotto was definitely a satisfying dish, not to forget that it was brimming with tangy flavors. There was another variant of risotto, the one with scallops and artichoke (try this one only if you’re familiar and comfortable with the taste of these ingredients).

When we talk about the new pastas in the menu, my favorite was fusilli with lamb ragout. The minced lamb and its tangy subtle flavors made me fall in love with this dish.

All in all, the new menu definitely adds another feather in La Piazza’s cap which has been shining brightly with a lot of accolades, be it from seasoned critics or from the passionate food lovers, ever since 1994 in Hyatt Regency Delhi.