Indian Dinner @ Tandoor Grill, Jalan Ampang, Kuala Lumpur

This was simply put, absolutely phenomenal. If you love Indian food, then you should not miss this. If you like spicy food, you should not too. Heck, if you just like any thing that is tasty, do yourself a favour and just visit this spectacular establishment.

What an impressive display

Tandoor Grill is a restaurant located in the heart of central KL, and is just a few train stops away from KLCC. Located in an office building near the Renaissance Hotel, you would not have guessed that such an amazing food spot would exist here. But it did. And I went there with my colleagues for some good evening chowdown.

Empty as we came very early, and it rained so the crowd came much later. 

This place is a feast for the senses, and it is not just the food. The decor is clean yet striking. With wall carvings of elephants and Indian motifs, this place is fit for a modern day maharaja. The place looks more like a contemporary Western restaurant. And I really like it. Well enough quacking. How about the food?

Weapons ready. 

This place serves a vast array of Indian dishes. From street food staples, flat breads and various types of curries, you would not be disappointed with the variety. And for starters, we had the panni puri. For the uninitiated, it directly translated as water puffs. Well, it is not exactly that. But rather it is puri puffs, that is stuffed with some vegetables,a sweet sauce, then finally filled with a coriander and mint juice, that is where the "water" comes it. And to add some dimension, there are rice puffs to add in as well.

What an explosion

This was a flavour bomb. An absolute explosion. That green concoction was loaded with that vibrant and zesty flavour of coriander and mint, and it was even slightly salty. Definitely more bang from other ingredients, which I suspect there is some garam masala into the mix. The puri had a spectacular crunch and the rice puffs made it very fun to gobble down, with an added crispiness edge to it. Careful when you have it though, as you do not want the thing to literally spill over. This needs to be taken with one mouthful. So you better open wide.

Gooey and cheesy. 

Their breads are also not to be taken lightly. Each flatbread is made to order and comes piping hot ready for your consumption. They are really flavourful and a joy to eat. So flavourful in fact, that you can enjoy it on its own. A few in my party ordered the cheese naan. If you like your pizza crust, without that tomato sauce, this will be your jam. And you will jam into the night with delight.

Just way too good. 

I was keen in trying something a bit more unique so I had the amritsari kulcha, which is a type of veggie stuffed Punjabi bread. This was loaded with ingredients, such as sweet potatoes, spices and even paneer cheese. It was a real pleasure to chow down as it has a texture akin to a pretzel. Chewy, tangy and dare I say succulent? This kulcha was phenomenal and can be a light meal on its own.

A feast for the eyes. 

However, more is to come as the mains slowly come crowding the table. When it came to the main dishes,  we had the usual suspects, like the palaak paneer (cheese and spinach), a dhall curry and a some what uniquely named "Manchurian cauliflower". When it came to the meat dishes specifically, we had the butter chicken and chicken tikka masala. Our table became a cornucopia of colours and scents, with vibrant aromas just infusing with the air around us.

Its not meat. Really, trust me. 

Everything was just splendid and everyone enjoyed the dishes. However, the main star was that Manchurian cauliflower. It tasted like kung pow spices and the cauliflower was cooked to the point that it became tender. Its dark exterior even makes it look like meat. But after a few mouthfuls, you then realised that you have been fooled. Pleasantly fooled. It was a shock to the tastebuds, as it had a savoury and slightly meaty profile. This went down very easily.

Green magma

Another highlight was the palaak paneer. The spinach had a deep aroma, with a bit of a savoury edge to it and it even had a smoky profile. The spinach was smooth, and it felt like a velvety and creamy sauce. This would go so well with rice. And speaking of rice, we had briyani too. That went down like a storm. With our tummies full and flavour cravings satiated, our party of 6 left very happily. 

A well stocked bar if you want to turn another gear for your dinner party. 

The food here is great, and the prices are really reasonable, with started ranging from RM10-15, bread portions from RM3-10 and main dishes are about RM10-30. Being an Indian restaurant, vegetarian options are bountiful, so everyone can have a good time here. Also, do not let the copper ware fool you. They are deep and they do have alot of volume in it. So do not be deceived if the servings look a bit shallow. Also, the staff is very friendly and kind. Real props for service. 

 I cannot recommend this place enough and it is a very high chance I will be coming here again. Thanks Amy for the recommendation. If you would like to visit this fine establishment, then the address is as follows:

Level 3A, Berjaya Central Park, Jalan Ampang, 50250 Kuala Lumpur