Asha's, Kuwait - Restaurant Review

Asha Bhosle is one of the renowned playback singers of Bollywood India and has made a major mark in the industry and the minds of the people. She also happens to be the younger sister of Lata Mangeshkar. She is also well known for her controversial relationship with RD Burman, a music director of Bollywood pedigree. But what she is not perhaps well known for in India is about her interests in food. I came to know of this when I came to stay in Dubai and then in Kuwait. She has lent her name to the Food Industry and the results are the chain of restaurants known as ASHA’s. The restaurants typically have Asha’s personal photographs on the wall that are not properly lit. The furniture is Spartan with hues of dark red and orange.


In spite of some warnings from close friends, we decided to try our destiny on a Friday Evening in Kuwait. The menu was elaborate with some typical Indian entrees along with some signature Asha entrees ( her own creations). I was personally quite keen to try her specials rather than treading the oft beaten track. Chaitali was of course in two minds and we sort of hit a balance.


We walked in and were greeted by a host from the subcontinent only to be informed that our table hostess would be a Pilipino who I would assume would be well versed with Indian cuisine other than the clichéd comment on something being spicy or not spicy. It was also a case of true International integration.


The on the house fried South Indian fried appalams(a cousin of the Papad – a roasted lentil thin crust pancake) and some roasted conical papad were served along with some Mint Chutney, Marinated Mango pieces and some Indian pickles. That was good!!


The menu was elaborate with all the typical sections and after major deliberations, with Asha Bhosle’s old Hindi songs playing in the background; we finally arrived at our choice. They were as follows (Asha signature recipes in italics):


1. Safeedi Mutton Kebab
2. Ghar Ka Dal (Homemade Dal)
3. Mutton Vindaloo
4. Prawn Patti
5. Garlic Naan
6. Khurmi Naan
7. Kesar Biryani


The kebab was a flat piece of beaten mutton perhaps marinated with garlic and ginger and then grilled. This entry was passable. I could not figure out the specialty of the Ghar Ka Dal except for the conclusion that perhaps her house cooks the same Dal as we. The Mutton Vindaloo was definitely not from Goa and the Prawn Patti was a disaster. It is basically a Aloo Tiki filled with Prawns , coriander and mint. An aloo tiki is nothing but mashed potato, spiced up, made into flat spheres and shallow fried. That part was fine except that you had to search for the prawns inside.


The Naans were a shame and the Biryani was full of Kesar(Saffron). No, that was nothing positive about it. In fact, just before we ordered for the Biryani the hostess had asked an innocuous question about whether we wanted it to be spiced up. We had agreed and that was my mistake. Typically cooking Biryani takes considerable amount of time and any restaurant that would serve you the dish in about 30 minutes just cannot produce the same. If they are, it’s a big lie!! So the Kesar Biryani too did not pass. Boiled Mutton with fried rice, Saffron Colour and too much of Kewra water is definitely not Biryani!!


So there you go. It was a wasted evening and my suggestion to you is to stay off this place. An overpriced, unauthentic rip off. Sphere: Related Content