On a few days, you want to hit rewind, pause even. Surrounded by the choicest of foods prepared by the best of chefs in the world — at your doorstep and your fingertips — on a few days, you don’t crave the Michelin-star meals nor the most exotic cuisines — what you miss and hence crave is an Indian meal, cooked with authenticity (no fusion, please) over some comforting, soulful music. With that in mind, we entered the doors of the Antique Bazaar, Carlton Downtown Hotel, Sheikh Zayed Road, Dubai. You may remember visiting the restaurant in another location since its founding in the late 1990s and early 2000s. In its new location, too, the chefs continue to pay tribute to the time-honoured Indian dishes. There are no surprises on the menu — expect comfort and familiarity instead. Think the good ol’ Dal Tadka or Dal Makhani, the humble raita, a selection of biryanis, and more.
As we talk spices, if you wish to sample a street delicacy in a hygienic, fancier setting, order a portion of Samosa Chaat! It was easy on the tummy and a delectable start for the rich food we ate later. Our attentive, lovely server suggested we go for the chef’s recommendation. So came our selection of starters, Gulzar Harre Kabab, Jheenga Sultani, Jangli Murgh Tikka, and Noori Malai Tikka, each complete with a small portion of onions, carrot, and lemon on the side. As melodies hung in the air, we relished these delicacies and would agree with the meat-eaters that the non-vegetarian fare was better than the vegetarian.
The evening would turn into midnight, sooner than you’d know, for you’d have numbers like Lag Ja Gale, Mitwa, Ye Honsla, and more transport you to the times that were and also serve as a reminder to take a moment to slow down in the era of deadlines, timelines. The traditional flag fans (pankha) on the wall make for beautiful adornment, complemented by the carvings in the wood and the cobbled-together red brick verandah facade with tiny windows. Of course, if history is your thing, then you’d not want to leave before admiring the historical portrait of Mumtaz Mahal, the empress of Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan, under whose name the celebrated monument of the Taj Mahal was built. Talking of aesthetics, one needs to mention the flower-shaped silver thalis, which added to our experience of consuming the mains comprising Dum Subz Kofta, a cottage cheese kofta preparation in a gravy of your choice chef suggested a cashew nut gravy), and the Lal Maas — we can vouch for the latter’s authenticity regarding the spice level and the tenderness of the meat! The Lal Maas gravy’s yoghurt, garlic, and chillis were devoured with a selection of garlic naans and pudina-methi paranthas.
We stayed longer than planned, thanks to the live music and interactions with Asif, the fabulous tabla and keyboard player, and the female lead singer. We needed time to digest all the food we’d eaten and may return to taste the desserts and absorb more melodies. In the end, the evening felt like being on the wedding grounds, with the music bringing together everyone (guests from other tables joined us as we spoke music) and the ghee-dripping, creamy-rich meal reminding us that an Indian meal is best when shared with one and all.
P.S: Next time, we’d skip the lunch, don Indian wear, and take with us friends, craving both flavours and melodies.
Keep blowing the Trumpet! This & many more stories await in the pages!
