Abu Dhabi: Ever been to a fast food outlet that dishes out fresh, healthy and top class food? Drop in at Biryani Pot, a relatively new restaurant at the Galleria in Al Maryah Island. It will change your perception of fast food.
There is nothing fancy about this eatery located on the third floor of the mall. It is a typical fast food joint where you place your order at the counter and your food arrives in disposable plates and cutlery. Even salads, curries and desserts are served in takeaway bowls.
But everything ordinary about Biryani Pot stops there.
Dig into their garden fresh salads, hot kebabs and curries, and you are in for a culinary treat. The taste is awesome.
At prices ranging from just Dh15 to Dh35 for dishes, what Biryani Pot offers is excellent food that will give many fine dining restaurants a run for their money.
The proof is in their paneer (cottage cheese). Try out the roasted paneer tikka marinated in mint chutney. The soft, succulent cheese cubes are among the best I have had in a long time.
Every restaurant will have one star dish that will tug at your taste buds time and again. For me, that ace winner of palates was kadai chicken (Dh30).
Delightful
The roasted chicken strips tossed with bell peppers and spices was an absolute delight. The curry is a delectable mix of tangy and spicy with the right flavours and it goes well with fluffy naans and kulchas.
For health freaks there’s a variety of salads on offer. Don’t miss out the masala quinoa salad, an organic and protein-rich grain salad that is a meal in itself.
However, the menu offers limited choice for fish lovers. Other than prawn masala, prawn tandoori and prawn biryani, there is no much to choose from.
A sworn biryani aficionado, I must say that I was not particularly enamoured by the chicken biryani (Dh38).
The chicken pieces were well cooked to a tender softness. The masala quotient too was perfect. But my main grouse was with the way the rice was prepared – it was taut, wet and oily. Too many cooks spoil the broth they say. But in this case, if I had to cook the rice, I would have definitely left the rice over the fire a tad longer. It would have made the grains softer.
However, the yummy desserts helped us forget the downsides of the biryani in a hurry.
We were treated to some delicious, hot gulab jamuns, kulfi as well as rasmalai.
Going by the turnover of the restaurant, it seems Biryani Pot truly has the flavours to attract foodies.
We recommend: Kadai chicken, Masala Quinoa Salad, Roasted Paneer Tikka
Price for two: Dh 70-150
Timings: 7.30am to 10.30pm
Call: 02 676 6555
