Tucked away in the Capital’s glamorous Sultanpur, Beyond Designs Bistro is a charming, French-style eatery with a generous menu inspired by European and Pan-Asian classics. We speak to Founder Neha Gupta about how the bistro reinvented itself during the second wave of the pandemic, and some of its signature dishes.

Steamed Thai flavored Fish

I remember visiting this bistro in those heady pre-Covid days, and immediately being transported to another era and continent. With an autumnal light streaming in through the large windows, the friendly atmosphere and excited chatter of diners greeted me as I made my way to a cozy table underneath a sparkling chandelier in this eatery that is set in the Capital’s MG Road, in Sultanpur, adjacent to the Beyond Design interiors store, Co-Founded by Neha Gupta. For her brainchild, Beyond Designs Bistro, Neha has merged her design sensibilities with French gourmandise, with a sprinkling of Asia, to create this unique restaurant. Signature dishes include quinoa Buddha bowls, ricotta and spinach shell pasta, and Wellington chicken with spinach and cheddar sauce, while their artisanal breads are a must-try (try foccacia, olive and cheese, or sourdough). They are currently also offering a special ‘keto breakfast’ and a ‘breakfast in bed’ home delivery, as restaurants wait to open up once again. We speak to Neha about her work during the second wave, and her greatest inspiration food- and design-wise.

Neha Gupta, Founder

During the second lockdown in Delhi, you’ve been making low-cost meals to help the ill and the distressed. Please could you tell me about that?

Since the government gave us permission to run our bistro kitchens for takeaways and home delivery, we thought of using this opportunity to convert most of our resources to make healthy home-style cooked meals for families who were down with Covid and didn’t have the resources to cook for themselves. We immediately worked out a menu and the logistics and announced on social media to spread this word. One should do whatever seems possible to help in these difficult times.

The airy interiors of Beyond Designs Bistro, adjacent to their design store on MG Road

I have visited the Bistro and it's beautiful! Please could you tell us about the architecture, and décor?

Hugely inspired by French bistros, the aesthetics are very European, with a fusion style, and it’s also an extension of our design sensibilities that we follow for projects at Beyond Designs. Our table settings, crockery, cutlery, glassware and dishes are also a bit out of the box compared to what restaurants typically use, and is an extension of our design ethos.

Why did you choose a French theme?

I love to cook and host, and I’ve always wanted to have a French-style eatery within our showroom premises. Majorly inspired during her various international travels, particularly France, because of our love for French styles in design.

Pork Belly with homemade oyster sauce

Can you please name your top three signature dishes.

It would have to be the Buddha Bowl, the House Flavoured Minced Lamb in Mint Herbed Potato Nest, and the Duty-Free Cheesecake.

We loved the lamb with mashed potatoes and herbs – and the basil chili paneer and black rice – both dishes were outstanding. Pan-Asian fare is delicious; please tell us about this influence, and from where do you source your lamb, kale, and microgreens?

The menu is curated keeping in mind European and a few Asian influences. We worked on the menu, the taste, and presentation for a long period before we opened the doors to the public. A lot of thinking and planning has gone into the curation of our dishes.

We source our ingredients from suppliers who usually serve restaurants from markets like INA in South Delhi. We have strong plans to grow a few of our ingredients inhouse.

Bistro Special Noodles basket with Chicken and Lamb

Where do you deliver?

We deliver in Delhi and Gurgaon. Everything is made at our kitchen in Sultanpur. And we have shortlisted items that could work well as home dining dishes and have curated a special home delivery menu. Not all dishes possible to deliver though.

Spinach Stuffed chicken breast Served with Apple house salad

What is your hope in these difficult times?

Hope is what everybody is living on, we are in the hope that things will get better soon and the world will be the same happy place we always want to remember as.