North Indian cuisine that’s apparently part of a famous chain in Singapore. Thanks to globalisation, we only have to travel down the Intermediate Ring Road to check it out. Loved the irony 🙂 It’s located right next to Tangerine, our favourite sizzler joint, and opposite South Indies. Here’s a map. Parking for 2 wheelers is easy, and I think they offer valet services for the additional wheels.
The decor is quite good, a haveli style door, a chandelier, knickknacks including a silver color Buddha smiling away peacefully. They have a buffet for lunch, I think for Rs.250, so one section is almost devoted to it. There are comfortable, tucked-away tables, but they are for 4-6 people.
The menu is seemingly expansive. You can take a look below. (click to enlarge) Enough choices for the vegetarians, and options of chicken, mutton and seafood for the non vegetarians.
From all of that, we chose to start with the Tandoori Murgh Chaat. Although it had its fair share of vegetables – cucumber, tomato and potato, there was still enough meat in it for us to like it. The mint chutney that came along with the complimentary papads was phenomenal and served as good company for the chaat’s excellent masala too. So, this one is worth a try.
For the main course, we asked for a Kinara Khaas Murgh and a Dum Shikampuri Kofta. The latter was not available, so we shifted to a Bhuna Ghosht. To go along with that, a Warqi Paratha and a Kashmiri Naan.
Of all the dishes, only the chicken was worth a shout out, despite it being very similar to the regular Kadai Chicken. The mutton was more bones and pickled onions than anything else, and the ginger juliennes were missing, much like their more famous namesake. The Warqi paratha was a hardly disguised Lachcha Paratha and the Kashmiri Naan disappointed too. The quantities were sufficient for 2 people, so no complaints on that score. The service took an exceptionally long time and the food really wasn’t worth the wait.
All of the above cost us just over Rs.900. Meanwhile, there’s something quite calming at this place. You’d have guessed by now that its not really the food. It was probably the music – old ghazals, or the lighting, but it was only the ambiance that made the wait for the food less painful. If the quality of food could match it, the place would really be worth a visit.
Kinara, #305, 100 ft road, Indiranagar Ph: 43494349, 43494359
Menu and Photos at Zomato
I was tracking the opening of this place from when I saw their banner “opening shortly” since it’s bang opp my office. They had a line that read “Contemporary Indian Cuisine”, so when I went in I ordered for a masala dosa. You should have seen the look on the face… he said no masala dosa, only north Indian cuisine. I asked him since when did north Indian cuisine become contemporary? And according to an all India survey done by Outlook and someone a couple of years back, the dosa was the no. 1 dis hall over India. So how is it that they can make such tall claims and get away with it? Nonetheless, the buffet wasn’t all that great, quite insipid actually, and the a la carte wasn’t anything to rave about. You’re free to do this place for the paper…my prejudices may not allow me to be objective 🙂