We met up with Ninang just before my mom left for the Philippines. We were supposed to go shopping that day but almost all of the stores in the vicinity of Orchard are closed due to Chinese New Year. After seeing Ninang swiped her card upon exiting the station, we wasted no more time on finding a decent place to eat but we always come face to face with a “We’re closed” sign in every restaurant that we visit. Even Takashimaya was not operating that time! Anyway, due to the limited choices that we have, we ended up sitting on one of those Thai fast food restaurants that you can see just about everywhere.
As we were browsing through the menu, the discussion somehow landed on how we had wrestled to get past through Little India’s crowd as we had visited Mustafa the other day in search of a cheap but usable phone for my youngest brother and how we ended up eating one of the most fulfilling and unique dishes we had ever tasted here recently. The mentioning of Little India, to some extent, lighted up a seemingly good idea in my Ninang’s head. She unhesitatingly called someone on the phone, asking if their restaurant was opened that day. The person on the other line might have said that they were more than open that day because as she had ended the call we left the premise without delay and off we go to Little India.
I haven’t gotten any clue that the visit is more than just a visit for it would be an introduction to Lagnaa which apparently caters the best Indian cuisine that I have ever tasted to date!
As we enter the al fresco part of the bistro, we were immediately welcomed with a very warm and inviting smile by Shanti and Kaesavan (K7), who is both the owner and chef of the restaurant. It also came as a surprise that the owner still remembers my Ninang despite the fact that she had never gone to Lagnaa for a number of years now which I think is an apparent reason why people of different culture and backgrounds flood the place. They value their customers more than anything and you could not miss the friendly vibe they emit to the foodtrippers frequenting their bistro. It also got me into feeling that they are treating their customers not just as mere consumers but as their friends.
We were then led to a staircase located on the farthest side of the restaurant and as we were ascending the stairs, my Ninang who is climbing just ahead of me promptly take off her shoes. The thought of dining barefoot excited me even more!
As we enter the room upstairs, we were then greeted by a row of low round tables with a fair number of pillows placed accordingly on the wooden floor surrounding each table. The place is as unpretentious as it can get with ceiling fans and wooden lightings hanging along the row and glass windows, which invite an enough amount of sunlight to help light up the whole floor, found at the farthest end of the room. The pink heart balloons scattered around the room were only there because it was heart’s day the previous day but nonetheless, you can still imagine the feeling of simplicity the surrounding emanates.
We were then led to a table placed just between the window and the standing lamp.
We were then served with this yummy appetizer, I forgot what it was called but I can tell you that I can ultimately survive even with just this one. I asked my dad’s landlady what it’s called and she told me that it was cooked Papadam. I think I have to trust her on this one right? Haha.
My Ninang quickly ordered the Lime lassi. She testified that it is a good drink in counter attacking the spiciness of the food that we would order which we will alternatively taste and pick up without the drink. Since I am kind of intolerant with the level of spiciness they have here in Singapore, with my mom trailing a few levels behind me, we unhesitatingly followed then the recommendation of my Ninang.
3 bubbly Lime lassi drinks coming up then!
Here are some pictures that I have taken around the place while we were waiting for the food…
I want to see someone try this challenge! I will surely not survive it and will just end up paying for the dish if I am the one who will going to take up the challenge!
This is the view outside the window. I love how the yellow gives off a cheerful feel to the windows! I think this is Lagnaa’s signature color.
And here comes the sumptuous food! We ordered food that are ranging from not spicy to level 2 spicy foods because of our intolerance to spices. I love how Shanti reminded us that what we ordered are not at all that spicy and how she recommended for us to try the more spicy dishes. Maybe Shanti thought that we are in for the more spicy ones and that she just have to voice out that we are not ordering the dishes that she thinks we like more before it was too late. We appreciate the concern Shanti but these are all that we can take.
I love how this dish surprises you more than you expect. The tomatoes were filled with hints of vegetables and meat inside and I love how the tomatoes just seemingly melt in your mouth!
The fish dish on the left side was cooked in its finest. I love the softness of it! I think this one is called Fish Tikka which according to the menu is a boneless fish marinated in yogurt and Indian ground mixed spices and is roasted in Tandoor. Pardon me on copying word per word the description written in the menu!
On the right is the butter chicken which is a boneless chicken cooked in thick and creamy cashew nut and butter sauce. Yummy as well!
The dish on the left is the Delhi fish Masala which is a boneless fish cooked with tomatoes and cashew nut gravy while the dish beside it is called Matter Paneer which is cottage cheese cooked with fresh green peas and in creamy cashew nut sauce. There’s no way to describe this dish. The gravy, in no way, masked up the taste of the cottage cheese. On the other hand, the gravy and the enough size of chunks will not make you get fed up upon eating the cheese. It just blends well.
Here’s the look of all the dishes combined! I cannot help but notice that almost all of the dishes are cooked and immersed in cashew nut sauce. Hmm, I wonder what’s the deal with cashew nut sauce. Also, another thing that I had took notice of is how the look of the dishes exceed more than what you envision it to be. What a heavenly experience!
Because of the look of the rice, I was actually preparing myself for the taste of old rice. I was caught off guard, it was far fresher than what I was imagining it to be. I already forgot which one is the Jeera rice and the Yogurt rice but I love the smell of both. I can tell you that both my stomach and senses had already been filled with just whiffing the rice’s scent.
We consumed all of the dishes! There was nothing left I tell you. I’ve been wanting then to just lie on the flooring and sleep because of what we had eaten. Very satisfying!
Since we had decided to stick around the restaurant a little bit more to further catch up with one another, we ordered their special coffee which made me not sleep until the wee hours of the morning. K7 also did not fail to check up on us once in a while to talk with us or just ask how the food was. Good customer service they got there!
Anyway, after another hour or two, we then decided to leave the bistro. Shanti even gave us two calling cards each to keep one to ourselves and to give the other one to a close friend. Well, I, for once, will surely disseminate this hole in the wall, hidden gem of a restaurant not just to a friend but to the whole world!
If Singapore happens to be in your future itinerary and country of vacation, might as well visit Lagnaa which is just along…
in Little India. You can easily spot this one since the main road intersecting this narrow road houses the Mustafa Center and the newly built City Square Mall.
8 more levels for us to conquer then!
Cool graffiti wall at the back is also something to see!
Lagnaa Barefoot Dining
No. 6, Upper Dickson Road
Singapore 207466
Phone: (65) 6296 1215
Fax: (65) 6294 0568
Email: lagnaa@yahoo.com.sg
Opens from 11:30 am till 10:30 pm
Visit their website for more information www.lagnaa.com
0 comments:
Post a Comment