This new restaurant in Delhi feels like a chic Roman holiday 

Not every Italian eatery can feel like your nonna’s kitchen. Some can (and should) set out to achieve what Italian fine dining is meant to be: stylish and sophisticated, luxurious but not stodgy, and satisfying and comforting from the minute the food arrives at your table. For restaurateur Prateek Gupta, who has served this specific culinary art form at Café Dali and Ristorante by Dali to Delhi diners, the push to take it to the next step was obvious. So, when he settled on opening a restaurant at DLF Emporio, the playground for Delhi’s well-heeled where the world’s most coveted luxury brands occupy pride of place, it all seemed to come together.

At Vinci Ristorante, a new restaurant that has opened on the top floor of the luxury mall, you won’t find the checkered red tablecloth that rustic Italian cafes have normalised. Instead, the 50-cover ristorante feels like you’ve wandered onto a European film set. For this Italian-themed restaurant, Gupta tied up with Kapil and Sandy Khurana of Entertainment Design Company (EDC), a renowned luxury invitation, design, and production house, to design a tasteful space that feels intimate yet relaxed. They added sage green walls, emerald accents, vintage lamps, and a canopy-topped bar to set the ambience. Plush seating that is easy to sink in came next, aimed at ensuring diners would enjoy an unhurried meal.

Vinci gets its name from the iconic Italian painter, but the place doesn’t really have anything to do with Leonardo da Vinci’s persona or practice. In fact, the vibe gives off a classic Italian holiday with a touch of European flair. It’s stylish without being stiff (in spite of the white tablecloth) and elegant without being intimidating. Every little detail, from the lighting to the furniture and even the glassware, feels well-thought-out.

Like the place, the food feels meticulous and luxurious. Executive chef Hritek Ahluwalia, who helms the kitchen, comes here after years of practice at Olive Bar & Kitchen, Artusi Ristorante, Tres, and Café Dali, so you’ll not find any bizarro Italian-with-a-twist experiments on the menu but an allegiance to classic Italian recipes with the finest ingredients.

The creamy burrata makes you sigh, the lobster feels celebratory even before it reaches your table, and the heirloom tomatoes look like they are bursting with sunshine. “We wanted simple and comforting food rather than reinventing the wheel,” says Gupta, who takes pride in sourcing high-end ingredients from around the world.

It’s back to basics but elevated—tortellini inspired by Bordeaux, tomato sauce from Emilia-Romagna, and other ingredients flown in from Italy. “Local Indian produce forms the backbone of everyday cooking, but the showstoppers come from Italy: DOP-certified Parma ham, pecorino, parmesan, grana padano, and seasonal truffles that sometimes land in the kitchen two or three times a week,” adds Ahluwalia. 

With ingredients of this calibre, the meal quickly becomes a showcase of flavour and skill. I start with the Puglian Burrata Cart, where a creamy burrata is paired with condiments like pesto Genovese, pesto rosso, aged balsamic, pistachio crème, berries, and basil oil that can be polished off with crunchy sourdough sticks. Next up, the calamari fritters—light, crisp, and paired with a bright, lemony mayo—leave me wishing the plate was bigger. Diners looking to indulge will immediately order the Oscietra or Beluga caviar—nutty, buttery, and luxurious—that totally feels worth it here.

For pasta lovers, Vinci will feel like a candy store. The menu ranges from timeless classics to inventive creations, with dishes supported by handcrafted gnocchi and ravioli. Purists can order the linguine pesto Genovese with stracciatella and toasted pine nuts, or the always-comforting spaghetti carbonara. Those looking for something special can’t go wrong with the saffron pappardelle XO lobster. It’s tender sous-vide lobster swimming in a cognac-infused XO sauce, exultant yet perfectly balanced. 

If you’re the truffle-on-everything kind of person, you’ll be glad to see an entire section of the menu celebrating this ingredient: from the standard truffle fries to truffle sauce tagliolini, and even a truffle creme risotto. I tried the wood-fired white truffle oil pizza with a smoked Napoli crust, topped with truffle ricotta and fresh shavings that struck the perfect balance of aroma and restraint. 

Vinci is the kind the place where you don’t mind the indulgence, and the mains are designed for that. The New Zealand pistachio-crusted lamb chops are a study in contrasts, bold and nutty on the outside, tender and juicy inside. There’s also a seafood risotto featuring Carnaroli rice with plump prawns, tender clams, and sun-kissed heirloom tomatoes that blend in a creamy, comforting base. The Dover sole fillet is beautifully butter-poached. It’s flaky yet tender, served with zucchini and squash ribbons, a hint of lemon marmalade, and some brown butter foam that adds depth without being overwhelming. 

The wine list is just as thoughtful. Barolo, Chianti Classico, Pinot Grigio, and a sparkling Prosecco are all carefully chosen to complement the dishes.

By winter, when Delhi starts getting that nip in the air, Vinci will also open a terrace with alfresco seating and a bar featuring a cocktail programme crafted by Milan’s 1930 Bar, which has been a staple on the World’s 50 Best list. And that’s not all. Each of their five signature cocktails will be served in crystal glassware by Baccarat, via an exclusive partnership with the iconic French glassware brand.

In short, a meal at Vinci Ristorante is likely to feel like that rare indulgence that city life rarely affords. Imagine escaping to a little European reverie—all without stepping foot outside Delhi.

Address: 3rd floor, DLF Emporio, Nelson Mandela Marg, Phase 2, Vasant Kunj, New Delhi, Delhi 110070

Price: ₹3,500 (without alcohol)

Timings: noon to midnight (Tuesdays closed)

Reservations: +91 98110 95888