Indian food may be tough to nail down, and Ritu Dalmia’s greatly appealing Atrangi makes no attempt to do so. On the contrary, the Indian celebrity chef and restaurateur clearly embraces and conveys India’s diverse culinary traditions with a centred, yet diversified food that offers something for everyone.
The route to Atrangi involves an abra ride through Madinat Jumeirah’s waterways, which, despite the fact that many seasoned Dubai residents have been there and done that, will still make you go for your phone.
The restaurant makes the most of its waterfront setting, with floor-to-ceiling windows and a sprawling patio facing the Jumeirah Al Qasr lagoons.
You’ll find meals like tandoori prawns, chicken malai tikka, biriyani, and butter chicken.
The fusion dishes, still really stand out. Order the complex crab and prawn thetcha for butter-poached crabs topped with a Maharashtrian home-style chutney and served on an extremely crispy Gujarat cracker. A lovely mixture of textures and bold flavour.
Galawati kebab, created by chefs for Lucknow’s Nawab Wajid Ali Shah, who lost his teeth but not had a taste for meat, is really meltingly sensitive. Smoked duck kebabs are served by a creamy saffron sauce and a mint yoghurt emulsion. You’ll want to soak up every last drop of that sauce with the matching bread.
With a well-executed dumpling packed with date, potato, and cottage cheese and cooked in a mushroom stew, vegetarians are not forgotten.
Finish with brûléed phirni with roasted figs, a Mughal-era dessert that includes ignited rice pudding. Tasty yet not overly sugary.
All of the meals are clearly plated with perfection, and each one shows up to be a piece of beauty.
One of the finest features of Atrangi is the service, which is nothing short of outstanding. The staff is attentive and goes above and beyond to make the visit pleasant.
Atrangi is elegant enough for a romantic night by the lake, but it’s also ideal for big parties and families seeking for an elevated Indian supper that looks and tastes amazing.
