I understand that Little Miss India is no longer a new addition to the Dubai dining scene, but I only just tried it out and spoiler alert: it’s a serious contender for the best Indian food in Dubai.
Those of you who follow me closely on Instagram may already know that I have been going for Aquaspin classes at the Health Club at Fairmont The Palm. When it was colder, I would go early in the morning so that the rays of sun may warm me up, but let’s face it, king up at 6 a.m. is NOT fun, and now that the weather is warmer I’ve started going in the evenings instead.
My Aqauspin buddy and I have been seeing the Little Miss India ads painted all over Fairmont the Palm for weeks now (usually at 6 a.m. though), and kept promising/reassuring ourselves that we will try it out one of these days, after one of our evening classes. Last night, we finally caved, and after Aquaspin class we dumped out wetsuits in one of the lockers and flip-flopped over to Little Miss India.
First Impression: Modern Indian opulence and grandeur with traditional and whimsical touches alike. The front half of an entire truck peeks into the alfresco dining area, whilst the back half doubles as the bar area inside. Very cool.
We are welcomed warmly and seated promptly. Our lovely server walked us through the menu. We ordered a couple of mocktails, practiced superhuman restraint and didn’t order the entire menu, but were quite content with the variety we chose (a little bit of everything). It felt like forever before the poppadums and chutneys were brought out (quintessential Indian amuse bouche), and then almost seconds after that came out, all the food started rolling out. Note to Little Miss India and many other restaurants that seem to pay little heed to this crucial detail: Pace matters.
What was unique about this basket of poppadoms is that there were 4 different kinds of poppadoms and 3 different kinds of chutneys, and not just one of each.
Only a few bites into the meal though, we realized that it all turned out for the best, and that were didn’t waste our appetite on the poppadoms, because this was some of the best food I have EVER had.
Here’s what we ordered, and you should too:
Were started off with the Amritsari Machi, because the sound of crispy, warm, batter-fried fish was just the treat we needed after a cold swim. Verdict: it did NOT disappoint, and was everything we had hoped for it to be. The batter was seasoned, fish flaky and glossy, and most importantly it didn’t taste like an oil-soaked sponge.
I’m the person that wasn’t getting appealed by any of the chicken entrées on the menu, but the minute I saw okra, I shrieked with joy. This “Aamchur Bhindi” was THE BEST bhindi I’ve ever had. It was crispy but not crazy oily, wasn’t gooey or mushy at all, was tossed in raw mango powder, and was topped with crispy gram flour coated, fried okra strips! OH my GOD! This alone is worth a trip to Little Miss India for.
Of course we had to get a curry though, and we (wisely) picked the Goan Prawn Curry. It was hearty and luscious, and the prawns were ridiculously tender, almost as if they had been marinated in cream.
My Aquaspin buddy flatlined when she saw “Raan” (leg of lamb) on the menu, so we had to get one of those as well. Now I don’t eat lamb or mutton or anything from that family, but my friend really loved it. The mixture of sweet corn with the slow-cooked meat was an interesting addition that added texture.
One thing especially worth mentioning is the naan. This was the first time I ever enjoyed naan at an Indian place, and I’ve eaten at a lot. Why, might you ask? Because while it was still thin like Indian naan are, it wasn’t crazy oily! YAY to no heartburn!
Another thing I’m not a fan of are all Indian desserts and sweetmeats. To me, they’re way too sweet, floral, and heavy. So, I let my friend pick what she wanted for dessert, but when I tried a bite of these “Shahi Tukre” for research and evaluation purposes, I couldn’t stop until the plate was nearly wiped clean. Suffice to say, my friend was not happy she had to share, but I can always find new friends, am I right?
Service was absolutely stellar, courtesy of Restaurant Manager Abhijit, and our pleasant server Pooja. Thank you Little Miss India, for a meal that was truly undoing our workout for.
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