Ed: Comments on this review have been closed due to the uncouth nature of Xian’s friends, admirers and fans. They’ve been here, calling me names and exhorting others to try out Xian, NOIDA. These gallant, misinformed people actually think they’re doing Xian a favor and proving their loyalty by abusing the reviewer and quite amusingly offering to pay for meals. Not agreeing with a review is fine. Calling the reviewer names is not. Most people think they’re entitled to a strong opinion simply because they like food. Unfortunately knowing food is quite different from liking food and the amount these so called friends of Xian, NOIDA know about food, would have difficulty filling a walnut shell. The overall experience unfortunately is marred by Xian NOIDA’s reaction to negative criticism.
Xian is a new oriental restaurant in Sector 18 NOIDA. Xian has well done interiors with a distinct minimalist flavor and a great menu supported by well trained, polite and sensible staff. With all of this, I felt Xian was all set to be one of NOIDA’s nicer fine dining restaurants, which this city so needs.
Pity about the food though.
We ordered Smoked Salmon Uramaki (Rs 580 for 8 pieces), Yam Samrot Kai (Rs 250) and Warm Duck Salad (Rs 295). Jasmine tea was complimentary and our waitress was nice enough to suggest it instead of the hot water I asked for, for my sore throat.
The Uramaki tasted all wrong, the rice wasn’t done right, and had way too many sesame seeds plastered on it. The Wasabi had no bite, the Gari looked like it was produced in house and tasted all wrong and finally the bowls were completely unsuited to dipping the sushi. A complete disaster. The Yam Samrot Kai was to be a tangy chicken salad served in a pineapple shell. It was tangy alright, but very little to do with a salad; more like a chicken main course with reduced gravy. Wasn’t bad though, whatever it was. The duck salad, said to consist of lettuce, mint leaves, green chili and slices of duck was actually highly salted, shredded duck served on bruised lettuce leaves. On telling our waiter about the generous portions of salt in our dish, he called the manager who assured us he would replace the dish with a satisfactory one. I doubt the dish was replaced; probably had hot water poured over it to remove the salt. It came back with the addition of sliced shiitake mushrooms and pockets of highly salted duck. A disaster again.
All in all, Xian in Sector 18, NOIDA has everything going for it, except the food.
- Sid
PS: The front page photograph is from Hao Shi Nian Nian, not Xian, NOIDA.
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