ADDING a little spice to the restaurant options on Saadiyat Island, the chefs at Avasa promise to serve up high-quality Indian cuisine with a ‘surprising twist’.
Compact but tastefully appointed, the restaurant sits snugly in the freshly-minted surroundings of The Collection at The St. Regis Saadiyat Island Resort, with the food on offer easily reaching the same standards as the impressive locale.
Seated by the welcoming and attentive staff, the menu was perused before the appetisers were selected.
Very soon dishes including sukha mutton (dry spiced mutton, served up with pearl onions), banjara kabab (extremely tender boneless chicken slow-grilled over coal) and varqee murgh tikka (chicken marinated in cardamom and cashew paste, presented wrapped in silver leaf) arrived at the table.
The mutton was delicate and flavoursome, the onions adding bite and tang and the the varqee murgh tikka provided a fascinating introduction to a uniquely textured variation on
chicken. But it was the banjara kabab that proved the standout amongst the delicious delicacies.
Mains duly arrived; the kesari jheenga (prawns marinated in saffron) along with the menu’s purported ‘all-time favourite’, the chicken makhani (buttery sauce slathered over tender meat). Accompanied by a serving of olive naan bread, the mains maintained the excellence of the starters, traditional yet still inventive; marrying unusual flavour-combinations to create indulgent creations.
Desserts were also extremely impressive. Three arrived: the shahi tukda – golden fried bread soaked in saffron syrup and reduced milk which crunched in the mouth, all sweetness and light; the dandi kulfi (seasonal fruit ice creams, with interesting flavours such as papaya, mango and mint), served on a stick; and gajar ka halwa, which featured grated carrots, slow-cooked with reduced milk. All were mouth-wateringly glorious.
A trip to Avasa promises Indian food taken to the ninth level – a revamped re-imagining where traditional recipes are given vibrant new life. A visit guarantees your Indian food cravings reach a culinary zenith.
DETAILS
What: Avasa
Where: The Collection at The St. Regis Saadiyat Island Resort
Prices: Appetisers from AED 30 to AED 160, Mains from AED 58 to AED 160, Desserts from AED 32 to AED 42
We say: A truly exceptional Indian experience
Contact: 02 674 2221
