I had a craving for nihari and immediately thought of Blanchardstown’s Darbar restaurant, known for serving this classic dish. They also offer halwa poori, but I decided to try Maynooth Darbar instead since I’d never been there.
Unfortunately, the experience was disappointing. First, they were serving a dinner menu with no all-day breakfast options. Worse, nihari wasn’t even on the menu! While I understand nihari is typically a breakfast dish, it was the main reason I chose Darbar.
This led me to suspect that Blanchardstown Darbar and Maynooth Darbar might be separate chains with different offerings.
Once settled, we decided to order two starters along with mango lassi. For Pakistani readers, you’ll know mango lassi is a staple treat in most desi restaurants outside Pakistan. True to European norms, the drinks were served first.
The lassi was underwhelming, and my initial excitement faded as neither the menu nor the lassi met my expectations.
Then came the food. I have to admit—it wasn’t bad. It didn’t feel like the typical “white desi” cuisine I’ve encountered in Europe. (I use “white desi” to describe desi dishes adapted to suit European tastes.) Darbar’s food stayed authentic, and that was a pleasant surprise.
I’ve attached a few photos for you to check out!
Starters
Main
In the end, dining experiences are often a mix of food, ambiance, and company. For us, it was the latter two that mattered most. After all, the family that eats together stays together.
One downside? No sweet dishes (meetha) on this trip!
