Dubai, a melting pot of cultures and cuisines, has umpteen restaurants catering to various Indian flavours and a recent addition to this is Desi Village Restaurant & Café in Al Gharoud. Having heard a lot about them in the past few months, I visited them on Friday for dinner with my family.
As you step in you are bound to be amazed by the magnanimous interior and intricate details. The whole place has a modernistic dhaba (street food stall) feel to it with benches and colourful cushions, countryside paintings on the walls, and a huge tree on one side. Just beside the entrance, are stairs leading to the top floor, where they serve not just food but shisha too. Btw, there is ample parking in front of the restaurant managed by the RTA.
This eatery is open 24/7, a boon for those who crave shisha and/or desi food during odd hours 😊
There is always somebody at the door to guide the customers in and once seated, we ordered Shikanji and Masala Chaas to start off. Both were good, especially the presentation of the Masala Chaas in a traditional goblet.
Appetizers we chose were Tangdi Kulfi and Mutton Galawati. The mutton was tender and flavourful. But what blew me away was the Tangdi Kulfi. From presentation to taste, it was mind-blowing. A single piece of grilled tangdi (chicken leg) served in a wine cup covered in chef’s special sauce and garnished with pomegranate seeds. Truly photogenic and an absolute must try. The sauce is buttery and flavourful and can be enjoyed by kids and adults alike.
After a brilliant start, we couldn’t wait to try the main course. Chicken Tikka Lababdar was insanely delicious and the extra melted cheese on top made it extra special. The Dal Tadka was served in a balti (serving bucket) from which we had to scoop into small bowls. One can never go wrong with dal tadka and so was the case here. Had this with assorted Indian Breads.
We also tried their Mutton Biriyani. The pieces were juicy, succulent and flavourful. The portion sizes of all dishes were good and can easily be shared amongst 2-3 people.
To end the night, I chose Malai Phirni. This creamy rice based Indian dessert wasn’t overly sweet and the addition of crushed rose petals and chopped nuts was aesthetically pleasing.
Truly loved the food and the service and will definitely be visiting soon for round two 😊
Lizbethology 