Around the world today the Hindu festival Diwali will shine bright, celebrating the victory of light over darkness. For most families, this joyous festival is observed over five days, with family gatherings, rituals and a tremendous array of delicious dishes.
In honor of the 2017 Diwali Festival, we developed a list of five must-try Indian restaurants. To do this, we sought advice from the Oakham Curry Club (OCC) in Shanghai, namely, Chairman Greg Siccardi and Vice-Chairman Andrew Cameron. With a slogan “May your poppadoms be crispy, sauce be tasty and curry spicy,” we knew we were in the best hands.
The OCC is currently reviewing Indian restaurants to determine a Curry House of the Year, and their results so far point us in the right direction to indulge during the Dilwali festival, or anytime of the year for that matter!
1. Kebabs on the Grille
According to Andrew, “Kebabs on the Grille is an all-round sensational experience.” They consistently delivery exceptional service, great food and very reasonably priced for the quality you receive. They have four locations across Shanghai, but their Cool Docks restaurant in particular has a great ambiance. Their delicious kebabs come highly recommended, and as Greg so articulately said, “You don’t name your restaurant after a dish if you’re no good at it.”
See listing for Kebabs on the Grille.
2. Kaveen’s Kitchen
Kaveen’s serves solid Indian fare with a surprising amount of spice, something often lacking in Shanghai curry houses. The real drawcard for Kaveen’s is the owner Vic (Kaveen is his son). As an amateur magician, he’s more than happy to dazzle tables with genuinely impressive magic tricks during the meal, a guarantee to entertain all members of the family. From the menu, Andrew was happy to share, “Their samosas nail the tricky dough-to-filling ratio every time.”
See listing for Kaveen's Kitchen.
3. Lotus Land
Lotus Land’s biggest strength is its location; nestled away in Tianzifang, it stretches out over a number of floors with nice laneway views. Some tables have barefoot seating on the floor (on cushions) for added authenticity. From the OCC’s experience, Lotus Land is a standout when it comes to quality, especially when compared to some Tianzifang restaurants. Greg and Andrew highlighted, “The salmon masala in particular, is a surprisingly good twist on a classic dish.”
See listing for Lotus Land.
4. Vedas
Although slightly lacking in spice, Vedas produces consistent, quality Indian cuisine. Their well decorated interior creates a welcoming atmosphere, however this probably more suitable for a nice date night, rather than a big family affair. “The gulab jamun (sweet milk dumplings) are a perfect way to end the meal for any family members with a sweet tooth,” mentioned Andrew.
See listing for Vedas.
5. Masala Art
A Shanghai institution within the curry scene, Masala Art has a number of locations around Shanghai. The OCC was extremely impressed with the Dagu Lu venue and its extremely attentive service and quality of menu items. Greg again pointed out, “As always, if a place is going to put a dish in their name, order it. All of the masala dishes are lovely.”
See listing for Masala Art.
As the weather cools down in Shanghai, we hope these recommendations will bring your family and friends together, to keep you warm and get spicy!
Voting for the Curry House of the Year
After experiencing a restaurant, the OCC members vote anonymously on five categories: service, quality, customer care, atmosphere and quality. Following this, an average score is given to each restaurant and the highest-ranking place will receive the coveted CHOTY (Curry House of the Year). The current top five in the running for 2017 CHOTY are:
The Oakham Curry Club is a well-respected international institution; a collection of curry enthusiasts that take pride in searching for the finest Indian restaurants around the world and providing an impartial review. With branches already existing in Oakham (UK) and Hong Kong, they started their 3rd franchise in January 2017 to find the best curry houses in Shanghai.
To find out more, follow the OCC on WeChat and keep up with their Shanghai adventures, your taste buds will thank you for it!
[Images via One India, Oakham Curry Club, Kebabs on the Grille]
