Dubai: It’s easy to be overwhelmed by the aura of Ashiana that many Dubai old timers say is among the oldest Indian fine dining restaurants in the emirate.
Situated on the first floor of the Sheraton Dubai Creek Hotel and Towers - another landmark on the creek that opened over three and a half decades ago as one of Dubai’s first five-star hotels – the restaurant is after all by none other than India’s first and only two-time Michelin-starred chef restaurateur Vineet Bhatia.
So my expectations, much like every other diner at this majestic looking family restaurant with intricate wood carved interiors, naturally ran high from the moment I walked through its long arched entrance.
To give me a hint of what Ashiana is all about, I was served their Ashiana platter (Dh150) made of tandoori prawns, lamb seekh kebab, chutney chicken tikka and a murgh malai tikka (which I had requested instead of vegetable samosas). The taste that mattered to me was that of their tandoori prawns simply because how fresh the prawns tasted despite being char-grilled.
Not being a great fan of seafood, what followed next, however, absolutely converted me. Divine is the word to describe sambhar podi prawns (Dh150) or four king prawns deftly pan fried in sambhar and other South Indian spices with the shells intact. Served with lemon-peanut rice, coconut coriander chutney and a very interesting beetroot moilee, this dish is a fabulous example of how a regional favourite gets a pan-Indian makeover.
Also specially recommended is their matka achari murgh (Dh105) for its incredibly piquant delight of a chicken curry dum-cooked in Indian pickled spices, yoghurt and onions.
For vegetarians, a must-try is the khumbi tikki saag (Dh85) – sinfully crisp fried mushroom tikkis (small patties) – served in a thick spinach gravy garnished with garlic and cumin. You could have it either with a black olive sundried tomato naan (Dh20) or gosht dum biryani (Dh135) and finish it off with a kesar kulfi pista malai (Dh50) that’s topped with nothing less than a 24 carat edible gold leaf!
Details:
Meal for Two: Dh600
Location: Sheraton Dubai Creek Hotel and Towers
Contact: 04-207 1733
Timings: Sunday-Thursday: 12pm-3pm; 7pm-11pm, Friday-Saturday: 7pm-11pm
We recommend: Sambhar Podi Prawns, Matka Achari Murgh, Khumbi Tikki Saag, Gosht Dum Biryani
