Food in Sanskrit means ‘Bhojana’- that which is to be enjoyed.
With a history of more than 10,000 years, Indian cuisine has heavy influences from all over the world. Every settler, invader or visitor that came by this vast subcontinent left their mark on the hearts and food bowls of the Indian populace. If you think Indian, you think strong aromas and heavily spiced food, but the Indian diet has so many flavours that it boggles the mind. The aesthetic ways of knowing food; of being a gourmand and deriving pleasure from it as well as ascetic responses to it are lauded even in ancient scriptural texts such as the Dharmaśāstras.
Celebrating Oman Restaurant Review's 7th year on August 18, we decided to check something close to our hearts. Our quest for that mouth-watering and sense-tingling gastronomy led us to seek the perfect Indian meal. However, that cannot exist unless we work our way from the top to the bottom of this enormous nation. Starting right at the top, we picked North Indian food as our go-to for this time. Biryani Rasoi, a small, quaint restaurant tucked away in the lanes of Ghubra serves up traditional North Indian food with a slight twist. We picked two appetisers, two mains and a dessert for our meal.
HE SAID: My pick was the Mushroom Kurkure or crispy stuffed mushrooms. This succulent dish is cheese and veggie stuffed mushrooms that are batter fried to a crisp. Imagine biting into a crunchy shell and a world of flavours oozing out. Our other appetiser could have been a meal in itself. An offering of 18 pieces of kebabs with 9 choices, served with Naans (Indian flatbread) and a mint coriander chutney. A multitude of scrumptious flavours all rolled into one.
SHE SAID: The kebab platter remains a firm favourite. Juicy chicken tikka, Reshmi Kebabs and melt in the mouth fish and don’t miss their Hara Bhara Kebabs – a veggie lover’s delight. Truly luscious. The best part? The spice levels can be customized to suit your taste buds. The platter does true justice to its price and is well worth it. The Mushroom Kurkure was another great choice; soft yet crisp – the dish was served piping hot and was well flavoured. Thank you, Sami!
HE SAID: My main was the Chicken Patiala. Even though I am an ardent Indian food lover, this was my first time trying this dish. Moist chicken tikka pieces wrapped in an egg omelette and topped with a classic tomato, onion, and cream-based gravy. I was pleasantly surprised; the dish was every bit tasty, and the textures went well together, especially with the different types of Naans and Rotis that were served in a bread basket. Our second main was the aromatic Mutton Biryani. The Biryani was well made but the chicken Patiala had already stolen my heart.
SHE SAID: Served with a tangy Raita, the Mutton Biryani was aromatic, each grain capturing the essence of the spices and mutton was tender and literally melted in the mouth. My only issue was the rice felt a tad bit overcooked – easily remedied I would say. The Chicken Patiala was the clear winner of the day – a tangy, tomatoey, buttery sauce that left you wanting more.
HE SAID: Our dessert was the Malai Kulfi. An Indian version of ice cream packed with thick cream and nuts. The flavour of this Kulfi was a one-way ticket to the streets of India. So very creamy, cold, and sweet. Extra points – it had no ice crystals in it, something we have experienced many a times at different places.
SHE SAID: What’s not to love about creamy sweet desserts. The Kulfi is a perfect dessert for these summery days. The dish tasted good, was well presented, and was an instant hit for both of us.
WE SAID: Though each member of the staff was wearing a mask, Biryani Rasoi truly embodied the notion of service with a smile. The restaurant was full, and they still managed to make everyone happy. The dishes were well worth their prices, and we rate this restaurant as total value for money. Would we go back? Yes, definitely!
OVERALL RATING
Ambience: 3.5/5
Taste of food: 4.5/5
Presentation: 5/5
Service: 4.5/5
Value for money: 4.5/5
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On August 18, Oman Restaurant Review will be celebrating its 7th anniversary. Boasting over 30,000 followers across their different social media accounts, the duo behind Oman Restaurant Review is sharing some of their feedbacks about the food scene in Oman. For more updates, you can also follow them on Instagram: @oman_restaurant_review
Disclaimer: The ORR team reviews anonymously and pays for their own meals.
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