Nestled on the 24th floor of the Holiday Inn Bangkok Sukhumvit is Maya Restaurant and Bar. Honestly, for an Indian restaurant, we were expecting an exotic-looking place with probably sitar music playing, but what we welcomed us were chic interiors and dim lighting that surely attract a younger crowd. And as for the food—well, everything was delicious.
THE RESTAURANT
Maya Restaurant and Bar deviates from the typical Indian restaurant, for it does away with the exotic-looking details in its interiors; instead, everything is modern and vibrant. It’s obviously an establishment that invites the city’s young and sophisticated set, although we were told that the restaurant’s also a favorite among the Indian community for its authentic cuisine.
Cooking for us the night of our visit was Executive Sous Chef Hardip Bhatia, whose strengths include Modern Indian and North-West Frontier Indian cuisines. With over 14 years of experience, he has served in hotels and restaurants in India, UK, Bermuda, and China.
THE MENU
Chef Hardip developed a menu of classic dishes cooked with a blend of exotic spices, prepared using traditional techniques, and presented in a modern fashion.
OUR FAVORITES
What really won us over was the Sarson Salmon Tikka, slabs of Norwegian salmon spiked with bishop seed, kasundi, and yellow chili, and served with spicy prawn pickle. We also liked the rich Dal Maya, which was enhanced by the churned butter melting on top.
My personal favorite was the Nali Rogan Josh, a tender Kashmiri-style whole lamb shank cooked overnight in fennel and ginger curry. And I loved how they embedded a mini gulab jamun (fried milk dumplings steeped in honey and saffron syrup) into the Gulab Jamun Cheescake, thus adding a twist to my favorite dessert.
VALUE FOR MONEY
Prices at Maya Restaurant and Bar are understandably higher than the others. But with the quality of the food, gorgeous ambiance, and stellar service, every baht is well spent.
MAYA RESTAURANT AND BAR
Holiday Inn Bangkok Sukhumvit, Sukhumvit Soi 22, Klongton, Klongtoey, Bangkok, Thailand
Telephone: +66 2 683 4888
Website: www.mayathailand.com
Social Media: Facebook and Instagram
