Inside Naarma’s alchemy of heat, harmony & haute cuisine

Ten years ago, going out to eat was simple. A place to fill our bellies, share a few laughs with family or friends, and head home content. But somewhere along the way, between the rise of food culture, design-driven dining rooms, and menus that read like love letters to ingredients, something changed. In 2025, dining is synonymous to theatre and storytelling. And leading the vanguard of this delicious evolution is Delhi NCR’s newest culinary gem Naarma, a concept restaurant that dares to play with fire and water (quite literally) to spark an extraordinary alchemy.

Born from the imagination of Akshay Anand, and brought to life by the formidable duo Chef Jayson Gubat Cagaoan and Chef Amit Singh, Naarma’s dining concept is a breath of fresh air. Chef Jay’s resume reads like a masterclass in Asian finesse, honed in Michelin-starred kitchens under the guidance of legends like Naoki Eguchi and sushi masters Tanabe San and Tsumura San. With over a decade of experience in Japanese cuisine and a sharp eye for sushi artistry, he brings fire to the table, both figuratively and literally. Balancing that flame is Chef Amit Singh, a stalwart of Chinese cuisine, whose three-decade-long journey includes a shining silver win at the Philippine Culinary Cup 2023. Together, they’re the culinary yin and yang.

“Naarma is deeply personal. It’s the culmination of years of watching, learning, building- and then finally deciding to throw the rulebook out. What we’ve created here is emotion, energy, and experience, all tied into one honest, fearless concept” shares Akshay Anand, Founder, Naarma.

An experience for the senses!

The moment I walked through Naarma’s doors, I could witness water gently weaving its way through quiet corners. There’s a dramatic softness to the space, a balance between heat and hush, chaos and calm. And then there’s that oversized abstract rose by the bar, a bold floral welcome surrounded by cheeky graffiti declarations that makes for those perfect gram-worthy shots.

My meal began under the guiding hand of Chef Jay, whose Naarma Shroom salad delivered crisp textures under a whisper of gomae truffle dressing. Next up was the Avocado Crunch, which I can only describe as chaat’s globe-trotting, NRI cousin layered with balsamic onion chutney and Aleppo chilli tartare. The melt-in-mouth Chicken & Cheese Dumplings arrived silky and delicate, vanishing in seconds. For the main course, the Thai food lover in me couldn’t possibly skip the green chicken Thai curry with jasmine rice, and oh, was it worth every calorie.

Naarma’s bar program is an ode to refined mixology led by the brilliant duo Heena Kewalramani and Pablo Guidoni. Recognised among the world’s finest, the bar doesn’t fall for flashy gimmicks. In an age where cocktails are often more about pyrotechnics than palate, their liquid menu is refreshingly grounded in craft and complexity. Each drink is rooted in the restaurant’s elemental concept, designed to evolve sip by sip.

I started off with Not a Picante, a mind-bending concoction of toasted rice-infused tequila and clarified tamarind juice, balanced with just the right heat. Next up was Mantequilla y Fresas, a strawberry-meets-Sichuan-butter fusion, rounded off with the cleansing glide of sake. If you, like me, have a soft spot for both caffeine and coconut, Jungle Bird is a must. This bold whisky-and-rum based concoction blends Balana Oleo, pineapple, peach-spiced Campari, coffee, and coconut into one unforgettable pour; it’s the kind of drink you’ll dream about long after the last sip. Prefer something on the sweeter, more indulgent side? Apples & Croissant is your go-to. Imagine brown butter croissant fat-washed Toki whiskey, clarified apples, and oxidized wine, together creating a cocktail that completely redefines dessert in a glass.

As night falls, Naarma transforms into a sonic sanctuary. Minimal techno flows into Afro rhythms, layered with the heartbeat of deep house, creating a soundscape as unique as the space itself.

It could possibly be your next perfect date night spot, just saying!

You may also read: Where to dine on your next date in Delhi NCR?