Turns out, Kuta isn’t only home to late-night bars and Australian backpackers - it’s also home to Spice Mantraa; a boundary-pushing, divinely delicious Indian restaurant that’s giving your favourite Indian go-to’s a playful, contemporary and oh-so yummy twist.
Forget what you know about heavy, overly-rich Indian comfort food. Spice Mantraa in Kuta [directly opposite the Discovery shopping mall] is changing the face of authentic Indian bites by sprucing up the country’s signatures and bringing age-old recipes into the twenty-first century, turning our favourite spicy staples into some of the most creative Indian cuisine we’ve ever laid our forks upon.
You see, the Spice Mantraa chefs [four cooking legends direct from some of India’s most renowned kitchens] believe in giving their native, signature dishes a global and modern spin, adding a sense of complexity and wittiness to everyone’s typical go-to’s.
Chicken tikkas, curries, kormas and biryanis all still feature on the menu in a big way [and don’t worry, they’re as authentic as you’d hope], they’ve just been refined, tweaked, and used in ways we might only have imagined in our foodie fantasies. Think buttered chicken spiced and stuffed inside a warm, cushiony naan, served piping hot and tender to the touch. Or shahi lamb kebabs served slider-style, grilled and spiced to finger-licking perfection. Delish.
In fact, Spice Mantraa is so proud of its home flavours, age-old recipes and the timeless allure of Indian cuisine, it spurred on the birth of the restaurant itself. The classic flavours of the region have then been given a nouveau twist to introduce diners to the full scope of India’s culinary terrains in a way that’s accessible, up-to-date and so very, very delicious.
Our favourites? Try the Mangalorean Fish Fry, fried until shatteringly crisp on the outside and generously spiced with a tangy, fiery Mangalorean masala. Or the Nawaabi Murg Biryani – a fragrant and smoked Mughlai basmati rice delicacy, layered with saffron, whole spices and a thick chicken gravy. Double delish!
And to soak up these spicy and oh-so scrumptious signatures, get a taste of the Spice Mantraa cocktails, like the Mango Mania [a mix of rum, coconut, mango juice, almond and mint] or the Strawberry Basil Mantraa – a cocktail infused with basil vodka, strawberries and lemon.
If that wasn’t enough to fire up your tastebuds, Spice Mantraa is offering you lucky Honeys a discount when you dine on their divine delicacies. When you make your reservation or sit down to dig in, simply show this feature on your mobile to the manager so that he can take a snap shot, and you’ll receive 10% off your final bill [applicable until 15th April, 2017] – yippee!
So what are you waiting for? Do your tastebuds a favour and spice up your life!
Spice Mantraa, Jalan Kartika Plaza, Kuta (opposite Discovery Mall), p. +62 361 750158, e. [email protected]. Open daily 12:00pm – 11.45pm