The British might be long gone but a part of their charm still lingers on in small cantonments across India. Kasauli is one such town that holds on to its colonial past and this is visible across the former garrison's every nook and cranny.
Perched on what could very well be the arterial road of Kasauli, Hotel Alasia has been witnessing the changes around it for over a century now. The hotel's Constellation Café on the ground floor is one of the best examples of a place that is contemporary and yet stuck in some glorious time wrap.
What sets Cafe Constellation apart?
Offering a mix of Indian, Chinese and Continental food, Constellation Café could be best described as one of those things that benefited from the former colonial rulers. The quaint décor, the hand drawn sketches of the township across the wall, the mild mannered waiters and the soothing tinge of green on the walls along with traditional favorites like Shepherds Pie (less than Rs. 360), Mutton Rissole (less than Rs. 235) and Chicken Stew (less than Rs. 235), Constellation Café's Continental fare will transport you in time for a little while.
Worth trying at Cafe Constellation
Although one might be tempted to indulge in Continental but Café Constellation's Indian dishes are worth every bite. With generous amounts of methi (fenugreek) in a thick masala gravy, Constellation's Chicken Curry (less than Rs. 435 full and less than Rs. 235 Half) is unlike the image that usually crops up in one's mind. Soft tawa roti plays the perfect accompaniment that makes the food taste even better. Unlike the over-fried yellow dals that one gets at most places, Cafe Constellation's Dal Maharani (less than Rs. 110), is one of the simplest yet lip-smacking preparations that you'd ever try.
Many still think of Kasauli as a sleepy hill town but it's far from anything like that. A place bustling with energy especially on the weekends, the chances of getting stuck in a traffic jam at this altitude is possibility that you need to be prepared for. Alsia's sit-out is one of the best ways to enjoy the serene environs of Kasauli. A narrow cobbled path crisscrossing patches of really green grass with Kasauli's TV tower solemnly looking over, the sit-out is the perfect place soak in some sun and watch life go by. The problem is that for some strange reason food's not served outside and the fumes from vehicles that cross will break the spell. But that little detail notwithstanding Hotel Alasia's Café Constellation sit-out is ideal place to escape into the past for a while.
Café Constellation Rating: 3 ½ out of 5
Café Constellation, Hotel Alasia. The Mall, Kasauli, Himachal Pradesh.
Reservations can also be made at Hotel Alasia's Delhi Office-
705, Chiranjiv Tower, Nehru Place, New Delhi- 110019
I am a Delhi-based author who writes for Buzzintown.com. To know about Restaurants in Mumbai or Restaurants in Delhi please visit Buzzintown.com
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