Indian Food At Its Best, And With A Story To Tell

There was once a boy who was hungry. Her grandmother, who had a big backyard said, “Have some mangoes.” Confused, he answered her by saying that these fruits won’t fill his grumbling tummy unlike savoury kebabs. Not to be deterred, she went to the kitchen and whipped up a unique dish which became the mango curry - now one of Tandoors famous dishes. And that little boy, is now the restaurant’s Head Chef.

After 28 years, Tandoor has undergone its major revamp to reflect a more modern look with an Indian touch

Based on the story above, you can already conclude that every meal at Tandoor begins with an appetising story. During dinner time, you would often see servers fluttering from one table to another telling the mango story and other anecdotes to customers who are willing to hear the legends behind their signature dishes. How they decide which ones to share is by asking them to choose from a stack of cards. All these items are part of Tandoor’s $68++ Set Dinner Menu, which features 14 dishes from across India (a vegetarian menu and 11-course menus are available for $38++ and $48++, respectively). Like most traditional Indian meals, it always starts with the Samosa Chaat, a pyramid-shaped pastry shell eaten with sweet yogurt and tamarind chutney. These are brought to your table warm and crispy- two characteristics which tell you that they’re fresh out of the oven. Though these can be quite addictive, take it easy for the spiciness will just creep up on you without warning. Drinks and Kebabs

Chai Mojito and Bollywood Bellini

When this happens, you can always order a drink or two from the beverage list. A recommendation would be the Chai Mojito, infused with Masala, rum, mint, and soda to get rid of that peppery flavour from your tongue. As an added touch, a little bit of alcohol is added to the concoction. Another drink option is the Bollywood Bellini made fruitier with its lychee and raspberry champagne.

Murg Lemongrass Kebab

Easy on the drinks, though, for there are still more items to try. Aside from the tender Pudina Murg Shorba (chicken soup brewed with fresh mint), there’s also a wide selection of kebabs: Murg Lemongrass (chicken flavoured with lemongrass), Jalapeno Corn Kebab, Honey Dill Grilled Prawns, Paneer Chupa Rustom (savoury cakes stuffed with cheese), and the Malmali Seekh (cinnamon smoked minced mutton). Legend has it that this finely chopped kebab was created for a toothless Indian Nawab. All are worthy in their own right for Chef has grilled in a way that it has that smokey (take note: not burnt) flavour. But our favourites are still the Grilled Prawns and the Chicken Kebab! The Stories Behind the Main Courses

Mango Curry

In this set meal, the kebabs act as entrees to the main courses - 6 of them to be exact. Hands down, the one you shouldn’t miss is the Mango Curry, which we now know was created by Chef’s grandmother. The sweet and juicy fruit adds a refreshing twist and cuts the heaviness of the curry. The Nalli Gosht is pretty good too; this is a traditional recipe created to treat a king’s terrible cold. And then, there’s the Goan Fish Curry, made with chunks of Ocean Perch and cooked in tangy curry sauce. This was originally cooked as a tribute to the talented musicians in India. To end the night is the Triple Sensation Dessert, a three-in-one item composed of Bailey’s Kulfi, Rose and Elaichi Panna Cotta and Gajar Halwa (sweet carrot served warm). It’s a nice touch to end an epic culinary journey at Tandoor. --- Address: Holiday Inn Singapore Orchard City Centre, 11 Cavenagh Road, Singapore 229616 Tel. No.: +65 6733 8333 Opening Hours: Lunch from 12 noon to 2.30pm Dinner from 7pm to 10:30pm See Also: Love Indian food? You must try these places! Browse OpenSnap to solve your dining dilemmas