Dalma

Quite surprisingly, until the year 2001, there wasn’t a single restaurant in Bhubaneshwar which served authentic Odia cuisine. Dalma which literally means “dal with vegetables” is a speciality of Odisha and a common household dish for both the affluent and impoverished. Preparations are sumptuous despite being usually low in oil and spice. It became an instant hit among office goers and who craved for home food and made it their preferred destination for brunch during weekdays. It also provided an opportunity for tourists and people from other states residing here to try the delicious cuisine. More famous for its non-vegetarian offerings, the must try items on the menu are Mutton Thali - A plate of steamed rice, dalma, mutton curry with potatoes and alu chakta (mashed potatoes with spices), Chhatu Besara – Mushrooms cooked in spicy mustard curry and Chena Poda – Roasted cheese desert. Dalma now has has three outlets in Bhubaneshwar (Madhusudan Nagar, Chandrasekharpur and Lewis Road) and one each in Rourkela, Puri, Bengaluru and Kolkata.