We continue our reader-driven series on great restaurants and eating places across the country. 

Nirav Kapasi recommends Devraj Coffee Corner for mouth watering Italian fare in Rishikesh.

I recently visited Uttranchal with my parents. We travelled through Haridwar, Rishikesh, Rudraprayag and Auli.

The quality of food along the way was generally good, but one restaurant in Rishikesh stands out because of its mouth-watering Italian (yes! in Rishikesh!) and some American dishes.

This small restaurant, known as Devraj Coffee Corner, is located on the western end of the famous Lakshman Jhula. It is strategically located high above the street and has an excellent view of the Lakshman Jhula as well as the flowing Ganga river below.

The direct view of the Swarg Ashram and the Kailashananda Ashram, with each of its 13 stories dedicated to a different deity, only adds to the wonderful atmosphere.

Devraj Coffee Corner also has a bookstore attached to it; most of the books are on spirituality, yoga and similar subjects.

• Love food 'n' cricket? Head here

Now for the food. We tried the lasagna and the spaghetti; they were freshly cooked and served in the steel vessels they were prepared in! Both dishes were about the best we have ever tasted.

Be prepared, however, to wait for your meal to arrive. The service is rather slow. Both the lasagne and the spaghetti we ordered took almost 30 minutes each to arrive.

We also tried their mashed potatoes with cheese and their fresh fruit salads; both were absolutely delicious. For dessert, we tried their chocolate cake which was quite good.

Being a holy city, Rishikesh is strictly vegetarian, so no non-veg food served here.

As for the prices, the fruit salad was for about Rs 25 and the baked dishes were under Rs 100.

A meal for two with non-alcoholic drinks, and perhaps a chocolate cake, should come to around Rs 300, which is quite reasonable.

Overall, apart from the food, the ambience and location of Devraj Coffee Corner makes a visit here an excellent experience.

We would certainly would recommend this place to anybody visiting Rishikesh.

Address
Devraj Coffee Corner
Near Lakshman Jhula
Rishikesh

Phone: (0135) 2442089

Nirav Kapasi, 15, is a student of St Stanislaus School, Bandra, Mumbai.

~ Have you been to Devraj Coffee Corner? Share your experiences.

~ Do you live to eat? Join the Eating Out group

~ Do you have a favourite restaurant/ cuisine? Have you sampled the latest eating haunt on the block? Have you had any BAD food experiences? Spill the beans.

Be it Manali or Kanyakumari, Kashmir or Goa [Images], Jaipur or Nagpur -- we would love to know more about the eating out options in your village, town or city. 

Self-confessed foodies, recommend a restaurant. Rate the food (vegetarian and non-vegetarian), ambience, service, accessibility and whether you plan to head back.

Don't forget to add the restaurant's address and phone number, along with your full name, age, the name of your city, your profession and contact details.

DON'T MISS!

• Ever tried buffalo milk curd with honey?
• A chaat bazaar in Indore
• Authentic Punjabi food down South
• Kitsch 'n' kebabs at Kaaja Chowk
• Too hot? Sip shikanji this summer 
• A roadside kiosk with a difference
• A sinful thali...
• Of copper plates and cane furniture...
• Yearning for the perfect dosa?
• Love momos? Feast here
• Time to feast on seafood
• Israeli food in Dharamshala
• Got a fetish for Idli?
• Mughlai cuisine you can't miss!