UB Foodies Namaste Review! (facebook/groups/ubfoodies/) Namaste – In Pursuit of Excellence in Indian Cuisine Indian cuisine was first introduced to Mongolia through the launch of Hazara restaurant in the late 90s. Very few locals were familiar with the cuisine at the time and the Mongolian palate wasnt accustomed to all the spices and seasonings of the Indian cuisine. The majority of the patrons back then were expats and tourists and only few Mongolians could afford to eat out at fancy restaurants. Fast forward by a decade, the rise in disposable income and increased sophistication in demand have spawned a slew of diverse restaurants, bakeries and coffee shops in Ulaanbaatar. The discerning customers which now include many highly educated and sophisticated Mongolians face many choices and options to choose from many different cuisines. The Indian cuisine is marked by an intense competition in Ulaanbaatar, by our count there are at least 8 Indian restaurants: Hazara, Namaste with 2 branches, Delhi Darbar with 2 branches, Khajuraho, Los Banditos, and newly opened Maharaja. All of these restaurants serve Northern Indian cuisine, but at the same time, they try to differentiate by offering unique dishes not found at the other Indian restaurants. Although Hazara has the distinction of being the first Indian restaurant in the country, the recent survey conducted among the members of the UB Foodies group on Facebook revealed that the top rated Indian restaurant is Namaste. UB Foodies also made a list of the recommended dishes to try at Namaste and armed with the list, we ventured out to feast at Namaste. Namaste was founded by a chef Surendra Kumar who has been working in Mongolia for over 11 years. He previously worked as a chef at Hazara and about 3 years ago, he decided to open a restaurant of his own. Kumars mastery of the Mongolian language amazed me, in fact, several times I spoke with him over the phone, I thought that I was talking to a Mongolian from a western province. His hard work, dedication to excellent food and service has paid off and his restaurant is now rightfully considered as one of the premiere restaurants in the country. Namastes management pays close attention to the prices, portion sizes, variety and quality. The wait staff are polite and attentive. If you decide to visit this restaurant based on this review, make sure that you go there with 3-4 friends and share the dishes to fully enjoy the Namaste experience. Signature dishes and the dishes recommended by UB Foodies: Appetizers: (See Photos) Papri Chaat – This appetizer reminded me of Mexican nachos. Papri refers to crisp fried dough wafers made from white flour and oil. Papris are topped with chick peas, chilis, yogurt, and you can dip the papris into housemade chutney. The resulting taste is sweet, tangy and super spicy. Paneer Pakora – This vegeterian appetizer is made from Paneer (soft cottage cheese that is made in-house by Namaste) cheese slices, fried in a gram flour batter and is stuffed with spinach. This appetizer can be enjoyed on its own or with a chutney sauce. It is delicious and is easy on the stomach. /////////////////////////////////////////////////// Main Dishes: (See Photos) Butter Chicken (Murgh Makhani) – This rich, buttery, creamy chicken dish is a favorite among most of the Namastes regular clientele. Butter chicken is one of the most famous Indian dishes from the Punjab region and having tried the rendition of this dish at Indian restaurants both domestically and abroad, I must say that Namastes version of the dish is outstanding. Butter chicken is not a dish that could be easily cooked at home. The chicken breast pieces are marinated for at least two days and the dish requires many spices and seasonings that are not easily available in Mongolia. The dish is served in a copper bowl and can be eaten with basmati rice and/or naan bread. Beef and spinach (Saag Gosht) – The meat is very tender and each bite floods your palate with the taste of tender beef, spinach, coriander and various herbs. The dish is popular among expats who frequent the restaurant. Lamb biryani – Another popular dish at Namaste. Biryanis are similar to pilafs, a dish that is commonly found in different parts of Asia. The basmati rice is fried with lamb, boiled egg chunks, coriander and the dish is seasoned with various herbs and Indian spices. Tandoor chicken kebab – Mongolians love meat dishes and are fond of kebabs. Tandoors or clay ovens are widespread in Central Asia and in the Middle East and this chicken kebab dish is delectable. Lamb Special – A dish that is not on the menu, but the people who frequent the restaurant often ask for lamb or chicken special. The sauce of the dish is inspired by Goa region and contains curry leaves, homemade vinegar, and tamarind. ////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////// Ambiance – Nice and simple ambiance, this restaurant is great for casual dining, family dining, business lunches and dinners. Average dining cost per person – 10-16 thousand MNT Location: Namaste 1 - Flower Hotel, Near Sansar’s tunnel, Bayanzurkh district. Phone: +976 - 9927-0957, +976 - 5005-007 Namaste 2- Khatan Suikh Building, Baga Toiruu Street, Sukhbaatar district Phone: +976-5002-8500, 9927-0957
Posted on: Mon, 08 Sep 2014 10:05:45 +0000
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