Every major city in the country has new restaurants popping-up. The alarming rate at which there are new dining venues launching, it seems like restaurateurs are in a hurry to satiate the growing hunger of eager foodies. Most restaurants feature global cuisine, after all, wanderlust can extend to one’s taste buds too - jet-setters yearn to recreate a fond memory from a past trip and food is a great way to feed that nostalgic craving.
If you’re a globetrotting foodie, you’re likely looking for the next opportunity to satisfy those cravings for delectable, authentic cuisine that makes you feel right at home. Add impeccable service, warm hospitality and lovely decor and you’ve got a memorable meal. Luckily, I’ve found Riwaz at The Ritz-Carlton, Bangalore is the answer to this very craving and not too far away from home.
I’ve had the good fortune of experiencing several menus at The Riwaz, a restaurant that features cuisine from the former North-West Frontier Province, an area that forms a large part of India’s rich history. The Ritz-Carlton, Bangalore aims at keeping the rich legacy of India alive through recipes that are centuries old through the dishes served at Riwaz. And as I watched the mouth-watering episode of the latest series Gods of Gourmet, I felt I’ll be doing everyone a disservice by not sharing my experience at this lovely restaurant and why you need to savour the delicacies offered here yourself:
1. It’s one of the best places in the country to taste authentic Indian cuisine
Like I mentioned before, global cuisine is becoming the flavour of the season. But very few places serve up authentic Indian cuisine that’s cooked the way our ancestors did. When you walk past the kitchen at Riwaz, you can tell that the talented chefs are preparing dishes using original methods. The shiny cooking dishes and the pristine kitchen are filled with character - the char at the bottom from the flames used to slowly cook your food the right way, the spicy steam emerging from dishes being prepared wafting through the air, the dexterity of the chefs’ hands while chopping ingredients, the smell of the spices being thrown into a Ghee-ful embrace are all telling signs of the many years of experience and thought that go into the makings of a dish at the Riwaz.
2. It features specially curated menus by celebrated chefs
Riwaz at The Ritz-Carlton, Bangalore has a set menu but every now and then, there are critically acclaimed chefs who showcase their menus here. It’s usually for a period of two weeks with many of the spots being booked out. Whether it’s Kashmiri, Awadhi cuisine or a menu for the festive season, the kitchen is brimming with new menus that bring you the very best of Indian cuisine. The chefs typically interact with guests as they walk you through the meal, patiently explaining each dish, the origins of it and how the celebrity chefs have added a contemporary twist to an otherwise legacy recipe without altering the dish’s core character. These menus are usually announced on The Ritz-Carlton, Bangalore’s Instagram handle where you can follow them for updates to make a reservation for a limited-edition menu when announced. The Ritz-Carlton, Bangalore promises to be a memorable experience each time, which I feel everyone should experience a curated menu here at least once in their lifetime!
3. The venue is a sight for sore eyes
The restaurant is a beautiful display of warm hues, traditional elements infused with contemporary touches. It’s the perfect setting for a romantic evening with your partner, a celebration with friends or a private dining experience for loved ones. The restaurant’s space flows through sections seamlessly while the open kitchen stays with you as your flavoursome companion, gently reminding you that your meal will be ready soon with the mouth-watering fragrance of saffron, smell of spices and the choicest of ingredients beckoning at you to join them on the plate as they come together in perfect harmony with the sole intent to feed your soul.
4. A taste of home away from home
Of the multiple times I’ve had the privilege to dine at Riwaz, I’ve found one important element that stands out - no matter how rich, decadent and fulfilling the meal may be, it always feels like comfort food. It almost seems like a loving reunion with a much loved dish. While most of the dishes have been new to me and quite frankly mind-blowing for the use of ingredients I would never have guessed, it feels familiar, full of warmth and love. I always walk away feeling a deep sense of happiness and gratitude similar to when you’ve spent many hours at your dearest aunt or grand mother's home being pampered with all your favourite dishes.
5. A menu that meets all your dietary restrictions
Whether you’re vegetarian, vegan or have a gluten allergy, the chefs take great care in assembling your meal, be it a Thali or an à la carte option. They’re even thoughtful about the diets being followed across India during the various festivals, and India has a lot of festivals! The menu also features vegetarian options that are on par with their non-vegetarian counterparts with respect to the flavours and textures. Non-vegetarians will find Riwaz to be a true celebration of some of the best meats in the country - cooked to perfection as the meat falls off the bone and into your mouth, dissolving in a flavourful song of spices, fat, acid and heat making it the perfect orchestra that touches every note and making your heart (and your belly) sing.
6. A price-point that’s well worth it
Let’s be honest, we often overlook restaurants such as The Ritz-Carlton simply because we assume it’s not something we can regularly indulge in. The truth is that the price point is in the range of what you may spend during an average lunch at an average restaurant with average service, if you catch my drift. Having a meal at Riwaz might seem like a treat that needs to be saved for a special occasion, however, with Thalis are priced between INR 1250 to INR 2500 each featuring around 15 dishes all cooked beautifully and spends here adding to your Marriott Bonvoy membership, it’s well worth the amount you pay. The unmatched service, the care that goes into your dish that’s specially prepared for you and an incredible display of wines available to order, Riwaz can be the perfect way to upgrade your usual dining scene and just for a little more than what you might usually pay. And this is true of most restaurants here at the Ritz-Carlton, Bangalore that offer brunches and dining experiences that actually work out to be a better investment in a meal when compared to the average dining experience in the city.
I hope my experience has left you drooling for a lovely dish at Riwaz, The Ritz-Carlton, Bangalore. Do check out the latest series that’s on every foodie’s mind - Gods of Gourmet, available on Disney make a reservation to meet some of the Gods of Gourmet at Riwaz, The Ritz-Carlton, Bangalore!
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