Besting the best

As we mentioned last week, when it comes to Indian cuisine offerings around town, it's a definite problem of plenty. However, if you were to try and rank them, Tresind at Nassima Royal Hotel on Sheikh Zayed Road would unflinchingly find a spot at the very top. It wasn't the first time my partner and I were visiting the restaurant last week. The previous time, we'd dined in the main seating area and everything from the menu to the decor and presentation - my word, the presentation - had blown us away. Was it even possible for The Trèsind Studio to top that top-drawer experience?
Apparently, yes. Billed as a premium epicurean experience, the menu boasts 16 tasting courses - and is conceptualised as a culinary journey through India. We are ushered into a private dining hall to make ourselves comfortable within its very tastefully-designed interiors. Waiters dressed in dapper tailcoat jackets add mightily to the charm. And we love how the chef comes out to explain each course - because the kind of thought that has gone into each plate here is astounding. The "aromatic smoke to refresh our senses" that billows out of a dish placed in the centre of our table sets a serious precedent for what to expect. And we are not let down - not even an inch - throughout the course of our meal. There is plenty to write home about.
Taste: It is impossible to pick one dish as a favourite. Everything is a must-try, from the wild mushroom chai soup to the deconstructed pani puri served on ice, the most comforting khichdi and the delectable dessert box (yes, it's a box of six sweets). All very swoon-worthy.
Ambience: Apart from the tastefully done interiors that overlook Sheikh Zayed Road, there's just such an aura of exclusivity that the place exudes. The decor is pretty minimalistic - but here, all you need to focus on is the food. No distractions required.
Service: If there were awards for servers, these guys would totally be in the running. They were so well-informed about the menu, whisking away dishes after each course, answering queries. And the chef was a real delight. Added bonus: one of the servers even looked like Orlando Bloom!
Presentation: Who comes up with these ideas? I lost count of how many times I asked myself that question in wonder that evening. From dishes served on mirrors to ice bowls and with magnifiers (I really can't say more), the presentation here really deserves six stars.
Value for money: 100 per cent worth it. When they call it an epicurean experience, they mean it. You're paying for the experience, as much as the meal and the chef's insights into how the menu came to be. There is incredible attention to detail and it is worth every dirham.
The Trèsind Studio, Nassima Royal Hotel, Dubai
Reservations: 04-5260684
Cost per pax: Dh450 (veg tasting menu); Dh475 (non-veg tasting menu)
Rating: 5/5
karen@khaleejtimes.com