What you see – Alighting at the fourth floor of the Landmark Building at Waltair Uplands in Vizag, past pale(and dull) yellow walls, we begin to climb up the steps towards roof-top restaurant Indian Spice only to stop and admire two large murals done up beautifully with a combination of spices. This and the theme of a black and red-orange Indian Spice signage with a pestle, take us to a rustic ambience that is waiting to be savored, along with good food, for a Sunday afternoon lunch. Tiny waterways, lanterns, wooden floor panels and thickly thatched roofs keep the place cool. Indian Spice takes in 76 diners at 19 well spread-out tables.
What we get – Restaurant manager Cyril is instantly by our side as we settle down for a hearty meal in the company of good friends. Indian Spice in Vizag comes from the owners of Rosso and offers vegetarian and non-vegetarian cuisines that have North Indian food, South Indian food, Continental food and Chinese food on the menu. For our meal, Cyril pipes in with friendly suggestions. So we begin with a starter combo platter(Tandoori Studio at Rs. 350) of fish and meat kebabs and tandoori chicken. The kebabs are nicely done, with the right amount of crispness. For our main course, we choose a predominantly non-vegetarian meal of Kashmiri Chicken and Hariyali Murg(both Rs. 160), and a sole vegetarian dish Alu Gobi(Rs. 110). The servings, in copper-base urlis, are perfect for our group of four adults and three kids. Service is quick and prompt.
Overall, the food has the right flavors, but we find the Kashmiri Chicken a tad bit sweet. The naans(Rs. 20 each) are served hot, and are soft and quite buttery. Indian Spice also serves an assortment of beverages and spirits, but we opt for a tall glass of Lassi(sweet buttermilk). At Rs. 40, the Lassi is chilled, thick and comes with a topping of dry fruits – be warned, it is quite filling and we just about manage to finish it. The kids opt for regular Chocolate-flavored ice creams(Rs. 40 for two scoops) to wind up a wholesome meal. Indian Spice has the facility for takeaways too.
Our verdict – Indian Spice scores an eight out of a ten from MetroMela. Prices may come across as steep to some, but for a one-of-a kind, open-air dining ambience that goes with good service and good food in Vizag, it makes sense to dine here with family and friends. The restaurant gets quite crowded on weekends, so it’s best to book a table well in advance. Parking space is limited.
What you pay for a meal for two – Rs. 800
Anytime between – 11 AM – 3 PM and 7 PM – 11.45 PM