AWADH cuisine is known for its regal savoury flavours and now it is available as the genuine gourmet cuisine in Singapore. AWADHI promise you an exquisite experience packed with delectable flavours and fragrances that will take you on a journey of Royal AWADH. Sylvia Fernandes had the chance to enjoy a meal recently and this is what she had to share about the experience.
I felt royal as soon as I stepped into Awadh. Not knowing that this Lucknow food I was about to taste for the very first time in my life, was invented for royalty. Dubbed the French cuisine of India, up to 150 spices are used to cook this royal food. At the helm of this fine cuisine, sits a chef who has been acquainted with Lucknow food since he was eight.
With recipes in his head, this not-so-heavy array of starters, mains and desserts were a joy to my palette. Why am I not surprised then, that you have to make reservations to dine at Awadh especially on the weekend. My favourite go to when dining at an Indian restaurant are kebabs. Awadh’s signature Gosht Galawat is a melt-in-your-mouth mutton pattie with more than 25 rare spices used.
Image: The Awadh Reshmi Broccoli
I found the mince was ground so fine that it truly melted in my mouth. While this was excellent, my other favourite was the Bhattika Murgh, sizzling chicken marinated in whole spices. If you are vegetarian fret not for the Reshmi Broccoli chargrilled in a tandoor in a creamy cashew paste was stunning. So far, all three dishes a must-have on my next visit.
Image: Dum Subz Handi
I was ecstatic that the spices were so light and chilly did not overpower my palette. That is the biggest grind I have to axe with most Indian food, as spice does not sit well for me. Lucknow in pre-British times was called Awadh and this type of food was cooked for reigning Muslim emperors called Nawabs. I could understand why Awadh sees an outstanding 40% of customers order takeaways every week.
In fact, business has been so good since opening in January this year that Awadh owners know the proof is in the pudding. It is the only restaurant in Singapore that serves authentic Lucknow cuisine hence the uptake from satisfied diners. Despite being a fine dining restaurant, it is also wallet-friendly. The owners of Awadh wanted as many people as possible to try their food and enjoy it. In fact there are non-Indian diners like Japanese and Chinese, who have become regulars.
Image: Murg Chandi Tikka
As long as you are decently dressed Awadh welcomes you to enjoy a meal and feel relaxed in its comfortable setting. If you are on the hunt for food late at night, they are open till midnight. A huge convenience for those who love a late meal. Moving on to mains, my favourites were the Saag Paneer and Sultani Dal. So shocking to me as I am usually not fond of lentils but in this case, this was what shot to the top of my list.
Image: Dal-e-Khaas; a nutritious preparation featuring lentils and a secret combination of Lucknawi spices
I later found out that the cottage cheese was made on the premises – no wonder it tasted so fresh. Eaten with a variety of breads, this was a pretty yummy dinner. It could be that my preference for vegetables in the main dishes was because I had eaten meat starters so this made for a great overall combo to round up the night. While Awadh has a bar, alcohol does not enter the kitchen. All meals are halal and care, is taken to even have a separate dishwasher. I find this a very respectful way of doing business, to care about diners’ preferences.
And this is who the owners of Awadh are! Totally hospitable and ever so gracious! You might think that was the end of my meal but it wasn’t. The briyani which is something I look forward to is different in every part of India. I was told the Awadh style is cooked individually with different spices for the rice, meat and vegetables. Then mixed and served. I am sure you get the feel by now that Awadh stands in its own category, apart from the rest. Despite the use of so many spices, it is light and fine in taste. It draws a crowd even though it is situated at the very back of Centrepoint on Orchard Road. A great testament to the finely crafted food that is served!
INFORMATION
A. The Centrepoint, 176 Orchard Road, Singapore 238843, #01-33H
