Kids ready for a HOLI feast at Kinara by Vikas Khanna, JA Lake View Hotel Dubai

Kinara, a stylish Indian restaurant located in JA Lake View hotel, famous for being run by Michelin star celebrity chef Vikas Khanna celebrates the Indian Holi festival by introducing an exquisite set menu on the 09th and 10th March consisting of traditional and modern Holi Indian dishes which is a mix and match of colorful Indian spices and flavors. The Holi set menu is available only for 2 days during lunch and dinner. The special Holi set menu has veg and non-veg option. The set menu consist of a traditional drink, 2 starters, 2 mains, 4 sides(2 kinds of roti, rice, kadhi pakodi) and 2 desserts.

Chef Ashish Kumar posing at the open kitchen in Kinara, JA Lake View Hotel

Private Dining – Kinara at JA Lake View Hotel, Dubai

Outside seating – Kinara at JA Lake View Hotel, Dubai

Starters

Drink
Thandai – Almond, Fennel Seeds, Saffron

Veg Starters
Pyaz Kachouri – Spiced Onion, Roasted Garlic, Chilly Chutney
Dahi Vada – Lentil Dumplings, Yoghurt, Tamarind Glaze

Non-Veg Starters
Amritsari Macchi – Fish Fingers, Mint chutney, Pickled Pink Raddish
Murgh Boti Kebab – Chicken Morsels, Pearl Onion, Green Mango Chutney

Dahi Vada – Lentil Dumplings, Yoghurt, Tamarind Glaze

Pyaz Kachouri – Spiced Onion, Roasted Garlic, Chilly Chutney

Amritsari Macchi – Fish Fingers, Mint chutney, Pickled Pink Raddish

Murgh Boti Kebab – Chicken Morsels, Pearl Onion, Green Mango Chutney

It all begins with their pleasingly rich drink called the Thandai. It was a cold drink made in milk where you get a pinch of spice in every sweet sip of the drink. It was a perfect harmony between sweet and spice, we were completely allured by this magical drink.

We tried one of each veg and non-veg set menu. Both the veg starters have been fabulous. Although we’ve had many times a Dahi Vada, the one that came to our table was eye popping in display and taste. This is supposed to be one of Vikas Khanna’s signature dish by the way. The use of multiple sauces helps to make these starters look very pretty in color. For example, the Pyaz kachori came in chilly garlic sauce, mint sauce and a carrot sauce which helps them add color as well as increase flavors to these starters. Talking about the pyaz kachori, I still remember how puffy the pastry was, crisp and fresh feeling when you bite it. It was just fabulous, although I felt that one tiny piece was too little and was more of a teaser. From the non-veg starters the first item that comes into mind is the chicken kebabs for it’s luscious marination of Indian spice, the green mango chutney also gives a nice touch to the kebabs. The fish fingers came with 3 sauces as well and was the most attractive plate on the table. It also came with a berry sauce which I thought was a unique combination for fish fingers. The fish fingers by itself was pretty good, so the accompanied sauces could only make it better.

Holi special menu at Kinara by Vikas Khanna

MAINS

Vegetarian
Paneer Khurchan – Cottage Cheese, Bell pepper, Roasted Tomatoes
Kurkuri Bhindi – Crisp Okra, Green Mangoes

Non-Vegetarian
Murgh Ka Salan – Chicken Stew, potato crisps
Bhuna Gosht – Lamb, Caramelized Onion, Tomato Salsa

Sides – Kadhi Pakodi, Steam Rice, Puran Poli, Kinara Roti

Kurkuri Bhindi – Crisp Okra, Green Mangoes

Bhuna Gosht – Lamb, Caramelized Onion, Tomato Salsa

Paneer Khurchan – Cottage Cheese, Bell pepper, Roasted Tomatoes

Murgh Ka Salan – Chicken Stew, potato crisps

It’s Paneer and Bhindi available for vegetarians as mains. Bhindis never tasted so good, probably the Best Bhindi I’ve had. They came crisp and stacked up. I personally felt the Kurkuri Bhindi as a starter than a main. But the good news, there was Kadhi pakodi which I thought was excellent and everyone’s going to love this one. The gravy in it was thick, creamy and loved every spoon of it. The non-veg diners have inviting mains from chicken and lamb. The chicken stew was unique, It’s not something you’d expect when you hear the name chicken stew, instead it was chicken stuffed with cheese along with a nice thick gravy. Infact this was my favourite gravy from the set menu and I had most of my rotis dipping in this one mainly. The Bhuna Gosht, a well marinated chunky tender lamb was succulent as ever that would satisfy any meat lover. The Rotis were also to be mentioned as they weren’t anything short of extraordinary, the Puran Poli was a sweet roti which was stuffed with Jaggery and the other one which is called the Kinara Roti, a signature by the restaurant which comes with dash of chili flakes and sea salt on top.

Desserts – Holi dessert menu – Gujjia and KesariMalpua

Kesari Malpua – Pancakes, Saffron, Vanilla Ice Cream

Gujjia – Milk Solids, Coconut, Dried Fruits

They have some unique desserts and the Gujjia will definitely win your heart and you probably rate it as one of the best you’ve had. The Ice creams are also home made. I thought the pancakes were fine but wasn’t mesmerizing like all their other items in the menu. The holi set menu has definitely stood up to the theme of the event and Indian food has never looked so pretty and stylish. Kudos to the chefs for their creativity.

Click here to visit their official website. Click pictures below to see them in full screen view: