Before the holy month of Ramadan I have been to many iftar preview and it was one of them,I was invited to a renowned Indian chef’s restaurant Signature by Sanjeev Kapoor, a bloggers event courtesy jivewithdeepti. He is a renowned Indian chef, awarded best executive chef of India.Signature is a fine dinning restaurant situation in Melia hotel Dubai.It is known for its authentic and elegant culinary experience serving progressive Indian cuisine with signature dishes that showcase quintessential Indian ingredients and cooking techniques.
The interior was embracing the minimalist approach with spacious sitting,dim lights was creating a perfect dinner ambiance(although being a foodie lighting was a challenge for photography). They also had some hanging ornaments,signifying the holy month of Ramadan.There is also a separate area for those who fancy shisha after/during their meal.
On our tables different starters were already spread, like roasted poppadoms, fresh fruit, Baklawa, dates, chocolate covered strawberries and in cold mezze Hummus, Baba Ganoush and Tabouleh. Even assorted chatnies were served in a vertical stand.
Pani puri was also included in starters,they were fresh and presented in a quirky style. The crunch of the pani puri was delineating its freshness. They were served with the shots of water downed chatni. Loved it totally.
On the base of pani puri stand, there were palate cleanser amuse bouche served in spoons.
Three different juices were being served over there Jallab, Qamardeen and Rooh Afza. I choose jallab .
With other starters a platter of assorted grill hits our table,it was platted up in a typical chef style with pleasing presentation
- Saffron Scented Prawns
- Olive and net stuffed chicken roulade
- Sumac spiked grilled fish
- Charcoal roast lamb chop
Saffron prawns were jumbo ones rightly marinated with mild taste,stuffed chicken roulade had perfect punch of spices, charcoal lamp chop was juicy with a hint of charcoal aroma.Grilled fish was soft like clouds. All the above starters were hit one after the other. I devoured it delightfully.
Now come to the main course
- Dum ka murg
- Kabuli channa gosht
- Paneer papad tokri
- Wok tossed baby potatoes,cheery tomato and cauliflower
- Lalla mussa daal
- Chicken biryani
- Assorted breads(Khurmi naan & Ultra tawa paratha)
Dum ka murg was creamy in texture and chicken was soft and hearty infused with spices. Butter naan was an apt combo with it. Paneer papad tokri was scrambled cottage cheese with bell pepers served in a bowl instead of papad tokri. Kabuli channa gosht I couldn’t try it.Wok tossed baby potatoes,cheery tomato and cauliflower perfect option for vegetarians.Chicken biryani flavored with saffron, a mellow and mildly spiced rice served in traditional clay pot.I found it a bit salty for my taste. Last one was Lalla mussa daal was a showstopper ,slowly cooked lentil, rich and creamy in texture served in a black pot (reminds me of Harry Potter).
Chicken biryani,lalla mussa daal and dum ka murg were my favorites among the above list.
Desserts came in a three tiered circular trolley in a small size servings. The trolley had
- Mahalabia
- Phirnee
- Chenna Angoori
- Malpua
- Gajar ka halwa
The Head chef Chandra Chur came to us personally to find out about our experience and food. At the end we got a goodies bag loaded with vouchers and a small box of delectable which was presented on the behalf of head chef. Loved each sweet in the box and no wonder, if I go back to Signature by SK just for them.
The set menu is priced at AED 149 per person from 7 PM to 12 PM.
Verdict:
- Cuisine:Indian, North indian
- Ambiance: Minimilistic and modern
- Quality: Superb
- Serving: Adequate
- Rating: 4/5
Address: Meliá Dubai, Ground Level, Near Port Rashid, Mankhool, Dubai
Phone number:04 3868111
Engineer With Flair 