Partnering paneer tikka masala with masala Martinis (!!!), Delhi Royale strives for a striking measure of opulence in both its cavernous setting & colossal selection, the latter of which makes this one of 2014's most notable entries on the city's long-list of North Indian restaurants.
This place is built for banquets; on one storm-swept Friday night, a table of 20 sat down to a thunderously belly-busting feast, while the rest of us pored over a massive menu that seemed encyclopediac - too many temptations, too little tummy space.
When even the complimentary welcome treat is an interesting conversation piece, patrons know the outlet aims to impress.
Raj Kochori (RM14++), flour balls filled with a flavoursome medley of potatoes, curd, chutney & sev (chickpea noodles), an elegant, eye-catching introduction to Delhi Royale's culinary charms. It'd be easy to eat three of these in a row without pause.
Creamy comfort can be found in the curries here, but really, there's a wealth of choices for mains. Lamb croquettes stuffed with boiled egg in onion-tomato sauce? Broccoli in cashew gravy? Mushrooms stuffed with cottage cheese & spices? Chicken in spinach sauce? Prawns in coconut-mustard cream? Plus, biryani, naan, samosas, raita & everything else we could want. Median cost for mains? Fish tikka clocks in at RM36.
Desserts are not an afterthought at Delhi Royale, which offers more than a dozen sweet pleasures - familiar favourites from gulab jamun to gajjar halwa to kesar pista kulfi (mostly RM12 each).
A review of Delhi Royale would be sorely incomplete without an observation of one unique Indian-influenced cocktail here - the Masala Martini (RM26.50), a mix of vodka, guava juice, lime juice & Indian spices, might be an acquired taste, but it's probably worth trying once.
Non-alcoholic beverages are also noteworthy - the Jal Jeera (RM10) is described as a summer beverage of lemonade & cumin ...
... while the Masala Coke (RM10) is what its name implies - Coke with Indian spices. For a safer bet, wine is available - regular Chilean & Australian varieties, with no spices added.
Delhi Royale
Jalan Yap Kwan Seng, Kuala Lumpur. Daily, lunch & dinner. Tel: 03-2165-1555
This restaurant is available for bookings under TABLEAPP, which enables customers to make instant reservations at Malaysia's top restaurants, while saving time and money in the process. Reserve your table at this restaurant by clicking here.
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