Hmm.. friends this is my first review..
I thought about writing on many topics.. but while searching a review found no one has written a review on masala art.. a restaurant I love.. I couldn’t resist chipping in...
My review will be half review as I am a veggie and restaurants are normally known by the nonveg they serve..delhi’s fav dish being chicken tikka..
My first tryst with Masala Art started when I used to work for a company having its office at first floor of Taj Palace.. One fine day our office was asked by Raman Mehra, General Manager, Taj Palace to try the food at their yet to be opened speciality North Indian restaurant — Masala Art (erstwhile Handi).
We all were the guests of Taj so we were ready for a special VIP treatment.. we were right.. The service and server attitudes were impeccable. This has been a Taj Palace trademark. Let me say at the outset itself that we arrived and left satisfied and even now when I visit this place I find it no different.. the treatment is A class..
As we enter, we were quite taken aback. For instead of the ghazals environ — typical of Indian restaurants, you find soft Buddha bar inspired world music here. A bar in an Indian restaurant? Yes, and that also a very stylish one. The decor in this 136-seat restaurant is absolutely contemporary. The magnificent sculpture at the bar of two human figures, is quite unique and interesting. One cannot help but admire the wooden flooring, clean, clutter-free interiors with a glass fronted singular wall reflecting modern aesthetics. Light furniture further accentuates the contemporary design solutions. Another thing worth noticing is the smart staff in chic Ashish Soni uniform.
This restaurant has tried to be different in every thing and yes it has come out to be totally different. The designer crockery is absolutely in sync with the concept. Two different sized white China hemispheres (in the shape of an eye) that fit into each other to form a traditional thali. The bigger eye is for curries and dal, while smaller one is meant to place kebab and bread. The two-piece plate concept is cute, but then while using fingers for the roti/sabzi, one manages to push some into the space in between. I prefer to enjoy my food than being a style statement. Another object asking notice is napkins they had a buttonhole..
Now coming to food..
We started with juices and starters.. There were numerous options.. all kind of starters and fresh juices..my pick was Arvi Ki Tikki and good old fresh sugarcane juice freshly squeezed from a Thai machine with stainless steel rollers.
Yes guys.. sugarcane juice in a five star restaurant...
In the main course I normally stick to butter naans aur pudina parantha but when the attendant offered to try fresh chappati, it didn’t really excite me I was skeptical..
But when the chef bought a chapatti trolley next to our table I had to believe it and I tried home-style phulka straight off the tawa right next to our table. Psychologically too, it was more satisfying as it was firstly, less fattening and then secondly, we were told made of atta which is churned afresh everyday in the portable chukki of Masala Art’s gorgeous kitchen. For the first time my butter naan took a backseat. Another thing worth mentioning is Hyderabadi Khatti Dal its outstanding deviating from the usual ma ki dal. kaali daal is also a hit, it was very tasty and very rich in pure butter. Other dishes were also good.
Another thing worth mentioning is u get an option of food cooked in olive oil.. A good option for health conscious.. Not me though..
I have a sweet tooth so love sweets after food... so I wrapped up my lunch with Himalayan Ki Choti (yes, it’s a dessert, please) and Anjeer Kulfi. Himalyan ki choti is something like rasgulla and gulab jamun served with good thick kulfi...its really different and yes very tasty..
I recommend this place for all generations as it has all necessary elements. It’s over two years now.. I still visit it occasionally and love each of my experiences..only one negative from the lobby, you can’t make out where it is. Is everybody supposed to be a regular...??