Surya Mahal

Description:

• Although only used for evening meals during the winter season, the courtyard adjoining this all-day fine dining restaurant at Rajvilas is arguably the most romantic place to have dinner in Jaipur. Lit by huge burning braziers, the courtyard features a raised platform where beautiful Rajasthani women give a short performance of their traditional dance (Sept 15-Mar only). Apart from the live entertainment -- and there's always melodic musical accompaniment -- Surya Mahal is all about rather formal dining, offset by a wonderful serving staff who do their best to bring zest to a menu that certainly doesn't take too many chances. Although the head chef, Marc Hegenberg, is Australian, his team is capable of dishing up some mean Indian dishes. You can sample the tastes of the region with a Rajasthani thali (multicourse platter), or, if you're up for something spicy, have the laal maas (lamb braised with Mathania chilies and yogurt, and smoked with cloves and garlic), which goes wonderfully with rice or naan bread. Specialty Indian dishes include the kebab platter (any of the tandoor dishes are highly recommended) and traditional thali. Tantalize your taste buds with the shammi kebab, minced lamb flavored with mace and cardamom and then filled with hung yogurt. If you fancy a simple, tasty chicken dish, try rarha murgh, tender morsels of meat cooked off the bone with tomato and roasted cumin. Or you can give the Indian dishes a break, and choose from roasted Chilean sea bass, Australian milk-fed pork loin in a sour cherry glaze, or perfectly roasted Australian rack of lamb.

• © Frommer's 2013

Awards:

Frommer's

•  Very Highly Recommended 2010