While the rooms at Hotel Broadway, at Asaf Ali Road, New Delhi, are still under refurbishment, its themed restaurant, Chor Bizarre, is open to guests, serving regional Indian cuisine and authentic signature Kashmiri dishes in a setting that is unabashedly Indian.
Originally debuting in 1990 as India’s first theme restaurant, Chor Bizarre gained iconic status with its unique ‘thieves market’ ambience and authentic regional Indian cuisine.
It is known worldwide for its Kashmiri dishes and was the first to take the Wazwan as well as delicacies from the kitchens of Kashmiri pandits out of the valley and through its pop-ups across the country and the world.
Rohit Khattar, Founder Chairman of Old World Hospitality, said, “Chor Bizarre was the first restaurant I opened in 1990. Since then we have launched many others. However, reopening this one is homecoming for me. It was a labour of love then, as it is now. The entire team looks forward to welcoming you back to another era.”
Chef Srinivas A, the Brand Chef of Chor Bizarre, completes 17 years with the group that he joined as a Management Trainee. While he has added some interesting new dishes, he ensures that the menu stays true to its roots. Varun Sharma, the group’s Head of Bars, has curated a beverage programme that complements the restaurant’s rich culinary offerings with an array of exciting cocktails.
The menu:
They say one could travel the length and breadth of India without repeating the same dish at any meal. In keeping with this, they have curated interesting recipes from different parts of the country to offer a complete gastronomic journey. While the focus is on North Indian cuisine, their chefs are among the few who have access to the secrets of the Wazwan—the legendary 36-course Kashmiri feast—with select dishes available. The Chor Bizarre menu also features an extensive selection of vegetarian dishes, chaats, and specialities from across India.
Current and forthcoming pop-ups:
This year, Chor Bizarre wishes to take its tagline of being ‘India’s Restaurant’ more seriously with a range of pop-ups that are planned at Chor Bizarre, which will showcase the rich culinary diversity of India.
Chor Bizarre would like to pay homage to some great institutions from Old Delhi that have been purveyors of street food for several generations. They are bringing some of the very best chaats—papdi chaat, kalmi vadas, aloo chaat, kachoris, and even the great Japani samosa—as a tribute to these legendary shops and stalls, some of which are over a century old. Chor Bizarre’s Chaat Mobile vends these Purani Dilli delicacies hygienically cooled and warmed at an All-You-Can-Eat Price of Rs 499 including taxes.
The interiors:
The restaurant’s interiors blend kitsch, creativity, and imagination. Design Director Rashmi Khattar, who originally crafted the décor in 1990, has revived the space, adding new vintage pieces while retaining iconic elements like the four-poster bed, the Singer sewing machine table, and the 1927 Fiat—Chor Bizarre’s Chaat Mobile.
Inspired by a literal chor bazaar, Chor Bizarre features an eclectic collection of handpicked furniture, tableware, and curios from across India. Quirky posters adorn the walls, and tables are set with chunky antique jewellery alongside tempting appetisers and kebabs. The warmly lit ambience, paired with retro Bollywood tunes, evokes a sense of nostalgia, with décor that blends imperial and Indian influences.
Chor Bizarre’s aesthetics embody the philosophy of “nothing matches, yet everything gels.” From eclectic furniture to bric-a-brac, the interiors reflect India’s vibrant spirit—part art, part kitsch, and full of finery, frivolity, and joie de vivre.
