Masala Klub at the Taj West End

This place has grown with me. Or, rather, I grew up with it. I dined here with my parents, dated my boyfriend in its many restaurants, got married in its lush green lawns. I have fond memories of this, one of the city’s premier heritage properties.

So when I heard that the Taj group has launched a brand new Indian restaurant with a contemporary twist from the signature Masala brand, I made a beeline here with my brand new husband.

Masala Klub, the elegant 108-seater restaurant, stands next to a 120-year-old tamarind tree and serves up heavenly Indian fare, without the heavy oils and overpowering spices. Olive oil is the cooking medium, and masalas judiciously complement and recreate flavours in international cooking styles.

We began with Chef Hemant Oberoi’s signature paperwali machchi (fish fillet drizzled with fresh-ground peppercorns enveloped in paper and chargrilled without oil). Superb. Then we tried to make up our minds between a la carte and five fixed-menu choices. Since the fish had whetted our appetites so, we opted for the pre-decided menu: A choice of three starters (Trendy recco: prawn hoppers), three vegetarian/non-vegetarian choices (Trendy recco: chilgoza fali, stringless green beans with roasted pine nuts for vegetarians and murg khatta pyaaz, chicken with pickled onions, and dum ki nalli, lamb shanks in a curry, for non-vegetarians). The hot phulkas, fresh off the trolley, were the perfect accompaniment, and we ended the meal with masala chai kulfi, a blend of cream, chai and cardamom.

If the husband and I weren’t so into each other, we’d have opted for the Masala Studio, which allows the diner to engage with the chef as he prepares your meal. Masala Grill is yet another innovation, since you can supervise your own grills at the stone-grill tables.

I could grow some more with the Taj.

Masala Klub, The Taj West End, Race Course Road, Bangalore 1. Tel: 66605660. A la carte main courses start at Rs 450 (veg), Rs 650 (non-veg). Fixed menus start at Rs 2,000 (veg) and Rs 2250 (non-veg). Masala Studio individual chairs near the interactive kitchen start at Rs 2500.