Spice Bahar can be added to the list of my favourite Indian restaurants in Muscat. Set amidst a dramatic, gorgeous backdrop of the ocean. From the choice of artefacts adorning the walls to the spacious and cosy interiors, this place is unmissable.
We ordered fish fingers amritsari, and chatpata kurkure paneer as starters. The fish amritsari is a spicy and tangy deep-fried fish snack native to the Punjab region of India. These crispy and crunchy fish fingers were a modern take on Punjab’s favourite amrtisari fish. Lightly battered and bursting with Indian flavours, these fillets were one of the best appetisers I’ve had in a long time; the presentation was dainty and neat, and they served it in shot glasses, on a bed of lettuce, dressed in a thousand islands sauce.
The chatpata Paneer kurkure are slabs of cottage cheese, marinated with Indian spices and deep fried, coated with bread crumbs and rice flour, which gives it a heavenly crunch. I would give this a very high rating. Both of these appetisers were scrumptious.
For the mains, we ordered chicken tikka masala, thick pieces of grilled tandoori chicken, marinated in Indian spices and dunked in a creamy tomato gravy. It was lip-smacking. Then we had lahsooni methi paneer, a creamy curry made of garlic-infused, fenugreek-flavoured cottage cheese, served with a basket of assorted naan (oven-baked flatbreads). The taste was impeccable. It was creamy in texture and subtle in taste. The highlight of the main course.
This place will surely see me as their patron, provided they are consistent. Loved the food, the staff was cordial, and the portion size for both starters and mains were massive. Love it.
Dine at Spice Bahar
Jawharat Al Shatti, Shatti Al Qurum, Muscat
+968 2469 5990
About the Contributor: Oneza Tabish is a food influencer, blogger, consultant and stylist who has a knack for features writing and food reviews. She is the founder of the popular dining Facebook group ‘What’s Cooking Oman’.
