A date with dal | Chor Bazaar

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Located within the Mövenpick Hotel that rests adjacent to Dubai’s Ibn Battuta Mall, Chor Bazaar is a hidden delight for vegetarians and Indian-cuisine gourmands alike, but struggles with its identity. Is it a neighbourhood hub for Indian food lovers, or a high-end bistro for only the discerning foodie?

Although I was somewhat surprised by the restaurant’s exclusive dining times (opening their doors only from 7 pm to 12 am), after sampling Chor Bazaar’s unique warm décor and earthy tones, you embrace the idea that this restaurant is best experienced as a short night-time dine. We were seated at a table of our choosing and quickly served by friendly, smiling faces who tackled our every question regarding the menu with adept advice and polite recommendations. Considering the extensive list of food, their expertise made the impossible task of selecting a few dishes, manageable.

For the vegetarian foodie Chor Bazaar excels with their strong collection of vegetarian dishes. In each main column – listing everything from typical Tandoori specialities, soups, Biryani and appetizers – Chor Bazaar has their own vegetarian subheading, with a host of different dishes tailored to suit any palate. I picked the Vegetarian Sharing Platter as an appetizer, Tandoori Mixed Vegetable Grill, Paneer Tikka Masala and Black Dal.

Each dish was a culinary delight. For AED 86, the Vegetarian Sharing Platter was a great introduction to the rest of the evening. From the tangy Onion Bhajia, delicate Sev Puri (which melted in your mouth in an explosion of mint chutney, potato and sev), each compact dish left you aching for more. That being said, I found that the Samosa had a slightly overdone crust. In fact both the Samosa and the Sev Puri were too densely packed.

The Tandoori Vegetable grill that followed was by far the collective favourite. As the manager explained, Chor Bazaar’s speciality has always been their wide-ranging list of grilled Tandoori dishes, and their vegetarian option is no exception to the rule. Seasoned overnight, the selection of deep fried mushroom, grilled paneer and mixed aromatic vegetables offered some fantastic flavours.

It must also be noted that I am not the greatest handler of spices, and naturally, attending an Indian restaurant I had some reservations concerning my ability to sample my dishes without four litres of water on hand. For those of you like me – green to finer tastes of Indian cooking – Chor Bazaar introduces very enjoyable, warm spices that compliment, rather than overpower their dishes. While all their food harboured a little extra heat for someone not accustomed to Indian spices, it burned in a pleasurable manner; coating the mouth in a warm glow that doesn't scorch, but tingles. For vegetarians hoping to escape the monotony of certain veggie dishes, Chor Bazaar does well in livening up your palate.

In much the same way, the Paneer Tikka Masala and Black Dal delighted with their colourful presentation, warm flavours and rich textures. Served with toasted garlic naan, these two dishes were enough to serve at least four people.

As I touched on earlier, the restaurant seems undecided on whether it is haute cuisine, or an unassuming Indian eatery for people interested in taste rather than presentation. Situated in a relatively ‘casual’ area of Dubai, the restaurant succeeds in painting a modern setting with refined looking dishes that are clean, but not overly presumptuous.

For small platters and appetizers, the chefs arrange the portions beautifully with minimalistic plate designs and sprinkles of aesthetic garnishing. However, when faced with the Dal or Masala the restaurant regresses to a homey, comfort-food feel that better suits the style of a casual eatery. These conflicting issues, coupled with the fact that most of their dishes are over 80dhs (which is the average price tag for most decent, hotel restaurants) makes you wonder where Chor Bazaar stands. This confusion makes it hard to accurately judge the food as it ticks a number of criterions, without associating with one genre of restaurant entirely.

Neighbouring the bustling and bright Mövenpick halls, Chor Bazaar’s high, dark walls framed with modern Indian décor and designs shelters you from the outside clamour, allowing you to completely immerse yourself in this inimitable setting. Beyond its charming service and attractive style, the vegetarian selection and high quality dishes ensure that you have a pleasant evening meal. Leaning towards the pricey side, it’s not a restaurant one would visit religiously, but for those aching for a solid selection of vegetarian dishes (and are not too concerned about counting their calories), Chor Bazaar is a must-visit if you are in the Ibn Battuta area.

- Stephanie

Guest reviewer and foodie Stephanie Gay hails from a diverse, multicultural background and has lived in Dubai for over sixteen years.

Disclosure: we were invited by the restaurant for this meal, however all views expressed by Stephanie are her own.

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