ITC Gardenia's Ottimo, the Italian fine-dining restaurant, has closed its doors to make way for Cajsa, a modern establishment offering set menus with contemporary global flavours. While "ottimo" means excellent in Italian, "cajsa" translates to pure in Greek. Cajsa represents a pure and excellent elevation of what the city has to offer, combining diverse flavours into well-curated set menus priced from a cool INR 2,500 upwards. We’ll discuss the price shortly, as it was one of our main talking points during our preview dinner a few weeknights ago.
If you remember the look of Ottimo, Cajsa presents a stark contrast. The space is adorned with minimalistic design and an all-white and beige colour scheme, featuring a live kitchen. As we awaited the start of our 9-course dinner, we explored the cocktail menu and opted for a Bergamot Brew, a clarified cocktail made with bergamot tart, green apple purée, Earl Grey tea, and fennel bitters. Later in the evening, we also ordered a Cafe Jageroni, a coffee-infused gin and Jäger drink. Both cocktails complemented the food beautifully while standing out on their own.
After a beetroot cannoli amuse-bouche, the first course arrived: a mushroom pâté with brioche toast. Since one of us was allergic to mushrooms, we received a rather theatrical replacement—a mozzarella balloon with tomatoes dressed in a very Japanese style. Next came a creative take on fish and chips, featuring airy batter-fried sea bass and the most addictive fries. They were so good that we requested an extra bowl.
As we savoured an excellent lobster with kasundi notes, hickory-smoked chicken, and a sharp ginger-cantaloupe sorbet, we noted how this meal is perfect for any occasion. Open only for dinner, whether you choose a 7-course or 9-course option, you’re sure to impress your partner on date night with a truly remarkable meal. The last savoury dish before dessert was the Goat Gala, which was hands down our favourite of the night. This dish featured a perfectly cooked goat chop, generously topped with an intense bone reduction, accompanied by goat cheese-apricot filo pastry.
Feeling satisfied and in good company, we concluded our meal with two desserts, including a miso caramel ice cream that we still dream about.
We were informed that the 9-course meal is priced at INR 3,000, which is a steal given the high-quality ingredients and the delightful flavours. The 7-course option is priced at INR 2,500, while the most indulgent 11-course menu is available for just INR 3,500. If there’s a meal that truly offers bang for your buck, this is it.
Location: ITC Gardenia, Ashok Nagar
Timings: 7 PM to 11:30 PM
Cost: INR 2,500 for a 7-course dinner (without alcohol)
