In a city where most diners still hedge their bets on Butter Chicken and Burrata, a 12-course-tasting-menu-only restaurant is a bold gamble. Nestled within Mehrauli’s Ambawatta complex—a site that has witnessed culinary heavyweights from Rooh to Lavaash—Pendulo, Delhi’s newest spot, arrives at a time when the space is enjoying a revival, with buzzy newcomers like Mi Piaci leading the charge. Ambitious, daring, and a little theatrical, Pendulo sets out to explore the cultural and culinary intersections of India and Mexico.
Behind Pendulo is restaurateur Sahil Baweja, most recently known for Chica Loca in Noida, a concept built for Sunny Leone. What began as Baweja’s inclination towards a Mexican-inspired bar quickly transformed after a conversation with Chef Megha Kohli (of Mezze Mambo) and Chef Noah Louis Barnes (of Miss Margarita). The trio asked a provocative question: What if Indian cuisine had travelled across the world centuries ago—leaving its imprint on other food traditions, including Mexico?
This speculative idea became the foundation of Pendulo. The team spent four months in intensive research and experimentation, crafting dishes that deliberately oscillate between the familiar and the unexpected. Initially designed as an à la carte menu, they pivoted to a tasting format, a clever move to encourage diners to step beyond tacos and quesadillas, and instead experience the full spectrum of their Indo-Mex experiment.
Pendulo is a 50-seater that wears its narrative on its sleeve. A massive pendulum hovers over an “ingredient library” of spices and chillies, signaling the restaurant’s central theme of oscillation between cultures. Inverted agave plants glow as dramatic light fixtures, while Aztec-inspired motifs nod to Mexican heritage. The live sitar player, delicately threading in the Indian element, sets a tone that’s both immersive and slightly surreal.
The 12-course tasting began as a culinary voyage between two continents, promising highs, lows, and the occasional detour.
The opening acts were promising. A chilled corn soup laced with jalapeño delivered a quiet heat, while a platter of Indian chips—sabudana, khakhra, bhakhri, and corn—paired with dips ranging from guacamole to a smoky chilli adobo, sparked playful curiosity. The charred baby corn, though, fell flat, salvaged only by the gondhoraj lime, which worked better in my water than on the plate.
Then came a showstopper: Tuna ceviche in a cold, smoked tomato shorba—a dish that sang in perfect harmony, deftly balancing restraint with ingenuity.
From here, however, the journey grew uneven. A beautifully grilled smoked lobster tail was unfortunately buried under an assertive chipotle-garlic emulsion. A bharwan mirch, accompanied by no fewer than eight elements including passionfruit and peanut chikki, became a case of “too much of everything,” distracting from the central ingredient.
A fragrant lemon sorbet arrived as a much-needed palate reset, clearing the stage for tacos. The Kodava pork taco shone, tender meat paired with charred pineapple in a pitch-perfect marriage. The mushroom-truffle taco, however, leaned too heavily into oil and cheese, moving away from both the Mexican and the Indian.
The final savoury act was the jackfruit barbacoa, an ode to Mexico’s slow-cooked traditions. With rice, it evoked an Indian kathal curry—comforting, earthy, familiar. The addition of a pine nut mole, though, felt extraneous, an idea that never quite married into the dish.
After nearly four hours and eleven plates, fatigue was inevitable. But dessert revived interest: a dark chocolate and chilli mousse that was unapologetically fiery. It could have benefited from restraint in portion, but it succeeded in leaving a bold final impression.
The beverage program, helmed by Fay Baretto, is as thoughtful as the food. Agave and Mezcal take centre stage, but Indian ingredients like kokum find new life in cocktails like the smoky Fuego Kokum. The standout, however, was the Leche Negra, a sultry riff on the espresso martini. In keeping with contemporary drinking trends, the entire menu is also available in zero-proof versions, offering an inclusive option for the sober-curious.
Restaurant Address: Pendulo, First Floor, Ambawatta One, Mehrauli, New Delhi
Price: ₹5,000 + taxes (vegetarians) and ₹6,000 + taxes (non-vegetarians) for the tasting menu
Timings: 8:30 pm onwards (dinner service only)
Instagram: @pendulo.restaurant
