Adrift Kaya’s new menu leans into simplicity and a playful new take on Japanese dining

Every present and then, a edifice comes up with a ‘seasonal’ menu, truthful overmuch so, that it is casual to get cynical. That said, the caller 2026 paper astatine Adrift Kaya, JW Marriott New Delhi Aerocity really walks the talk. Rejecting the thought of over-complicating techniques, Michelin-starred Chef David Myers and Chef De Cuisine Vladimir Villarba person focussed alternatively connected the “Kaya benignant and energy”. Spanning ‘Gypsy Chef’ Myers’ idiosyncratic inspirations from his travels — peculiarly from Japan — and Chef Vlad’s relentless pursuit of constituent consistency, the caller paper bridges the spread betwixt old-world techniques and modern innovation.

“We’re perpetually investigating caller ideas successful the room — caller ingredients, combinations, caller ways of doing things — truthful it’s important that those discoveries marque their mode onto the menu. The attack is ever the same: support the paper moving, support it relevant, and fto it germinate people alternatively than changing for the involvement of it,” says David . Working successful tandem, the 2 chefs decided to present much locally-sourced fish, portion continuing to bring successful cardinal products from Japan.

The speech starter this clip astir is simply a dedicated Temaki (hand-roll) section, which David believes is “one of the astir amusive parts of the update”, with Temaki reflecting a planetary displacement toward a much informal mode of enjoying sushi. “Hand-rolled sushi has go progressively fashionable successful large eating cities, and it brings a much relaxed vigor to the table. For Kaya, it adds a playful furniture to the paper portion staying existent to prime and simplicity,” helium says.

Available arsenic azygous manus rolls oregon three-piece sets, guests tin prime from ebi, spicy tuna, California-style, salmon, unagi and oversea urchin. When Chef Vladimir brings a enactment of them to the table, we marvel astatine their popsicle-like shape, earlier helium shows america however to clasp the nori sheet, mildly descent the temaki betwixt the folds and sprinkle a fewer drops of sashimi soy connected apical earlier popping it successful our mouths. A mouthful of the creamy, astir velvety Temaki with a last deed of umami from the soy, leaves our palates refreshed without feeling weighed down. Next, we effort the botan ebi from Hokkaido, which shows disconnected that fresh, umami flavour they person worked truthful hard to maintain. It is playful, interactive and a full vibe.

Fun bites, tiny plates, sumi-grilled dishes, noodles and atom bowls comprise the remainder of the Izakaya menu. The salmon belly tartare is served connected a achromatic brioche with a hint of yuzu. It is simply a crockery that demands to beryllium eaten successful 1 go. The buttery and somewhat saccharine aureate oculus snapper; beautifully plated successful the signifier of a rose, is paired with passionateness fruit, hanaho and ponzu aioli. It is simply a stunning illustration of Chef Vladimir’s skills successful making premium ingredients sing.    

We illustration the kaya signature nigiri next, and portion the O-toro with the shaved truffle and caviar is the heavy-hitter, it is the salmon aburi that turns retired to beryllium the victor with the texture of the smoky food against the spicy popular of the jalapeno and crispy murphy crisps. Not everything clicked though, and for us, it was the nasu dengaku (sliced eggplant) that made it to our least-favourite dish. There is nary denying the method prowess with the operation of 2 misos – shiro (white) and aka (red) connected a smoky eggplant finished connected a robata grill, but the texture of the eggplant tartare near overmuch to beryllium desired. No analyzable glazes connected the hamachi kama that was next, a reminder that sometimes simplicity works best. Seasoned with conscionable brackish and pepper, a compression of citrus and a broadside of Hokkaido oversea brackish with shichimi is each it takes for a agleam and satisfying bite. We circular disconnected the nutrient with the Matcha Musu, a frozen matcha mousse paired with a achromatic sesame praline, and portion it is complex, it lacks the ‘wow’ origin we look for astatine the extremity of a large meal.

While here, we besides get a sneak peek astatine a caller cocktail paper being launched soon by barroom manager Akshay Kumar. It is simply a travel we undertake with 12 cocktails successful 4 chapters, with the transportation betwixt Edo (old sanction of Tokyo) successful the 1600s and India arsenic the theme. There is overmuch to look guardant to, but fto america conscionable accidental that the experimental, affluent and savoury whiskey-based broth of Edo inspired from the ramen taverns of 1600’s Edo is the benignant of portion that manages to crook a humanities communicative into a amazingly creaseless reality.

Ultimately, Adrift Kaya’s 2026 refresh works due to the fact that it doesn’t effort excessively hard to beryllium good eating — it conscionable tries to beryllium honest, high-quality food.

Adrift Kaya JW Marriott Aerocity, Asset Area 4 - Hospitality District, Aerocity, New Delhi. A repast for 2 costs ₹15,400 positive taxes (Omakase) and ₹12,000 positive taxes (Ala carte). For reservations telephone 85274 88127.