Rasayyah, now open in the bustling lanes of Meharchand Market, marks one of Delhi’s most anticipated culinary debuts, a restaurant dedicated entirely to resurrecting the forgotten royal cuisines of Awadh, Lucknow, and Brij Banaras. At a time when Indian dining increasingly leans contemporary, Rasayyah travels in the opposite direction: deep into India’s gastronomic past, unearthing recipes, techniques and flavour philosophies that have nearly disappeared from mainstream kitchens for generations.
The concept is driven by founders Amit and Mukta Tandon, whose passion for reviving long-lost Indian culinary traditions forms the soul of Rasayyah. An FCA and seasoned investment banker with over forty years of global experience, Amit along with family has spent years travelling, researching, tasting, and gathering knowledge from rare households and traditional cooks who still guard these heirloom recipes. His family’s deep-rooted love for cooking and hosting, combined with his personal fascination with Nawabi and Banarasi culinary history, shaped Rasayyah into a space where Delhi can finally experience these ancient flavours in their purest, most refined form.
Spread across three floors with an open terrace, Rasayyah is designed as a modern homage to India’s royal dining culture. The warm-toned, elegant interiors reflect an understated luxury inspired by the “Regal”
archetype sophisticated, dignified, and quietly opulent. With around 90 covers, the space is intimate yet immersive, encouraging diners to slow down and discover the intricacies of a cuisine built on time, technique, and artistry from the masters of the past.
At the heart of Rasayyah lies its extraordinary culinary identity. Under the leadership of the Tandon Family the team comprises authentic chefs from the very heart of Awadh and Braj -Banaras region who bring decades of expertise in making the most heritage recipes, exactly the way they were meant to be . The menu curated entirely by the family is the culmination of meticulous research and heritage exploration with many heirloom classic gems served for centuries on authentic Awadh Dastarkwans and sophisticated vegetarian tables of yore .
Rasayyah not only represents the classical Awadhi non vegetarian cuisines but has meticulously curated many Vegetarian cuisines to ensure that the large vegetarian section of guests can also relish the Awadhi finesse with no meat preparations , a challenge not addressed well at most places…. The dishes revive techniques and methods from royal kitchens that required patience, balance, and precision. Recipes traditionally guarded by royal khansamas come alive in dishes like the Rampuri Tar Qorma, Nihari, Murg Mussalaam, Mahi e aab Zafrani, Lucknowi Galouti, Chapli Kebab, Mewa Bharey Gosht Pasandey, Maithani Laal Maas, Awadhi Burra just to name a few .
The large veg section encapsulates the purity and piety of the great Rasoiyaas of Brij-Banaras and comprises of Brij ki chenna khas khas tikki, Khoya, Matar, Kaju Makhana , Paneer Anjeer Kakori Seekh, Chena chukandar sabz galauti, Gobi Musallam, Gulbadan Pasanda, Hazrat Mehal kofta, Paneer Padmini, Paneer Kanti , Banaras ki matra tamatar chaat etc just to name a few … The dessert section is spearheaded by a family classic called Nazaquet e Awadh . These are flavours seldom found in modern restaurants deeply layered, subtle, and steeped in history.
The beverage program mirrors this philosophy, offering cocktails inspired by Indian spices, aromatics, and age-old beverage traditions. Each drink is crafted to complement the cuisine’s complexity, resulting in a coherent and immersive dining journey that ties together India’s past and present.
What ultimately sets Rasayyah apart is its commitment to authenticity not as a trend, but as a responsibility and mark of deep respect to the long lost culinary This is not fusion, reinterpretation, or experimentation for novelty’s sake. It is a deliberate revival of culinary legacies and heritage that deserve to be experienced, preserved, and celebrated not only by the palate but by heart . In a city known for championing regional Indian food, Rasayyah introduces an entirely new dimension: a fine-dining exploration of Awadhi cuisines that have normally not been presented with this level of integrity and meticulousness …
Speaking about the inspiration behind Rasayyah, founder Amit Tandon shares,
“Rasayyah was born out of a personal longing, a desire to reconnect and humbly try and revive the cuisines and flavours we have heard ,read in legendary cook books in royal libraries or tasted in traditional homes of our family, friends and the region .These recipes belong to a time when food reflected identity, pride and understated artistry. Bringing them back, with full authenticity and respect, felt like a responsibility and invoked a deep sense of gratitude . Delhi appreciates culture, nuance and depth and Rasayyah is our offering to a city that values heritage in all its forms. Rasayyah is a tribute to not only the greatest cuisines and their practitioners of past, pay reverence to the authentic cuisines but also a place where the friends and families while indulging with our food and drinks shall bond, have conversations, enjoy togetherness in a setting with most positive and vibrant vibes … Isn’t sharing a table always meant to be this way?”
With its opening in Meharchand Market, Rasayyah ushers in a new chapter for Indian dining, one that honours the richness of the past while presenting it with grace,intention and culinary integrity . More than a restaurant, Rasayyah is a revival movement, a tribute to royal flavours that shaped India’s culinary identity, and a gift to Delhi’s most discerning esteemed diners.