Jamavar, For Royal Indian Cuisine

What you see - Drive into the palatial pink hotel, The Leela and you cannot evade the royal feel. The mustachioed durbaan, the high ceilings, the trail of long cars and the scores of foreigners around you...you see all of that from the time you enter The Leela and walk into Jamavar, their Indian specialty restaurant on your right.

What you see at the restaurant is a touch of tradition. The huge wooden chairs, the silver cutlery and an urli with petals at the center of each table, make the décor of this restaurant. Dine outside and you also get to enjoy the greenery that adorns this hotel. Jamavar also has live classical music being played while you dine.

What you get - Jamavar serves Indian cuisine including recipes from the south and the north. So while you have kebabs and biryanis, you can also sample some fish and rice made in the traditional Kerala style. Better still, you can wash it down with liquor from international brands.

We started with a daiquiri (cocktail made with rum, lime and sugar). The salt rimmed glass with the dry flavors of the cocktail did leave a good impression on us. We moved on to some starters. Do try the Palak Firdausi (Rs. 260) here. The soft textured kebabs that break with the slightest push of the fork, melt in your mouth. But if you prefer something spicy, you could give Pomfret Tikka (Rs. 760) a try.

Move on to the main course by sampling Bikaneri Paratha and Mili Jhuli Sabzi (mixed vegetable). Mild flavored, these could go down well with most of the international crowd. Journey down south when it comes to rice by ordering for Alleppey Fish Curry and Saada Chawal (Plain Rice). End the ritual with an ice cream of your choice, for there isn't great variety to choose from when it comes to desserts here.

Our verdict - The food tastes good and is charged at luxury hotel price. Portions are sufficient. The ambiance is impressive though you have to be careful about sitting outside and not letting dust settle on your cutlery. Our advice actually to the restaurant staff would be to avoid laying out the table beforehand. After all, no guest would like to use dust-laden silverware. Service is prompt. Parking is not a cause of concern as valet parking is available at The Leela. Do check out Leela Galleria while you are here to shop for some books, bags, clothes and more.