Asha
If you’ve lived long enough in the UAE, there’s a good chance you’ve dined at Asha’s, or at least heard of it. Asha’s is a contemporary Indian restaurant chain owned by the legendary singer Asha Bhosle.
It’s been 15 years since they opened its first
branch at Wafi. They have about 16 outlets spread across the globe
and still counting.
We did walk quite a bit to reach Asha’s –
either courtesy to my ‘exceptional navigation’ skills or that we couldn’t
finder a shorter route. As soon as we heard Indian music playing we were sure
we found Asha.
The walkway to the restaurant is warm and
welcoming. I love warm muted tones and dim lights especially for dinner
settings and Asha’s is just that. It’s perfect for romantic dinners. We chose
to sit outside and I loved the ambiance. Perfect spacing among tables, soothing
music and dim lights and good company – what more could you ask.
I was invited for the Festive Biryani – and who can ever
say no to Biryani. For those who are new to Biryani, it is an intricate dish made up of fluffy rice, complex spices and tender
pieces of meat. With thousands of variants around the globe, each with their
own local twist, the biryani is a dish remembered for its preparation and
taste.
As with majority of Indian restaurants, we
started off with complimentary papadams and chutney.
For appetizers we opted for Samosa’s both
vegetarian and non-vegetarian. I could never say no to samosas. The vegetarian
samosa was palatable, but the Indian in me would have liked it a tad spicier.
The accompanying chutneys complimented the savory snack.
The most anticipated meal of the evening was
definitely the biryani – we chose the hammour biryani. Our server suggested we
opt for one as the portion is huge – and I kid you not – the portion is huge!
It’s a good quantity for 2-3 people.
The biryani was served in banana leaf and as
soon as the lid was opened - the
distinct smell of spices hit you, and in an instant you know you don’t want to
be further disturbed and just want to spend that time eating biryani.
The Biryani was perfect – the rice was fluffy
and cooked to perfection. The fish was perfectly cooked and marinated in mint
paste. It was a delight to look at and as you ate a spoonful you know you are
in for an amazing food experience. The fish was succulent and juicy, and just
melted in your mouth. The Biryani overall was saporous.
We finished the meal with Gulab Jamun and
having a chocolate tooth, I was intrigued to try the Chilli Chocolate mousse.
The Gulab Jamun was soft and just melted away, and was toothsome. I was so
looking forward to the chocolate mousse that I set up high expectations for its
taste.
Between the Gulab Jamun and chocolate chili – I’d
go back for the gulab jamun.
The service is exceptional. Our plates and
cutlery were cleared post every course. The staff were ever helpful and pleasant.
Asha’s is a perfect place for a quiet
rendezvous with some good Indian food, and cozy vibes
Contact:
Location: Level 1, Pyramids At Wafi, Umm Hurair 2, Dubai, Umm Hurair, Dubai
Timings – 12:30 pm to 15:30 pm
19:00 pm to 00:00 am
Cost: AED 400 for two
Reserve your table at: 043244100
I was invited to Asha's and all views and images are © Urbanmodish, unless stated otherwise.
