Multi-cuisine may be an overused concept but it manages to get the required footfalls to keep the restaurant business flourishing. Silk Route is the new addition to the multi-cuisine culinary landscape of the city. Remember Thai Express, the restaurant that dished out drool worthy Phad Thai noodles, Drunken Fire noodles and satays? Silk Route has opened in the same premises after Thai Express decided to shift to a different location in town. We’ll tell you about that in a few weeks; for now, over to Silk Route.
Silk Route has a new management but they’ve kept in mind the popularity of Thai food with foodies who frequented their predecessor. So the menu has a mix of Indian, Italian, Thai and a smattering of Chinese delicacies. On weekdays, the restaurant lets customers choose between a la carte and buffet. The lunch buffet is priced at Rs. 299 inclusive of taxes. There’s always a bit of trepidation with which you approach such buffet spreads that offer a bit of everything, wondering if each of these cuisines manage to retain their identity and authenticity.
To our pleasant surprise, we found the buffet to be more than value for money. It does attempts to do justice to all the cuisines without compromising on the taste factor. On a given day, the spread has one non-veg and veg soup chosen from Indian favourites like Dal ka Shorba, Tamatar Dhania Shorba, Murgh Saffron Shorba and Murgoli Dalchini Shorba or Chinese noodle soups and Thai soups. Potato sticks laced with lemon and chilli made for a good appetiser along with warm Aloo Mattar ki Tikki.
The main course is primarily Indian with a representation of Thai, Chinese and Italian. We liked the Miloni Subzi, Kadi Pakodi and Paneer Butter Masala served with soft butter naans and crisp tandoori rotis. Murgh Dum Biryani and Jeera Pulao were good too.
We gravitated towards Phad Thai Noodles and Pasta in Pesto Sauce and weren’t disappointed. Both the noodles and the pasta were worth a second serving.
The salads and desserts were a bit disappointing. The restaurant could do with some new varieties of salads for the buffet and the kheer available as dessert was a tad too sweet.
Opt for the buffet if you want a quick and economic meal. Else, go for a la carte since the menu is extremely inviting. Across the cuisines, there is an effort to go beyond regulars and offer something unique. So you find Banarasi Dal, Shrimp Pesto, Pepperoncino, Glutinous Rice with Mango, Fried Mozzarella, Moroccan Lamb, Sliced Chicken in Oyster Sauce and desserts like the flaming Angarey Jamun, Shole Zard (Iranian dessert made with saffron and rice) and the Thai favourite Water Chestnuts in Coconut Milk.
Silk Route
Fourth floor, Uptown Banjara, Next to Q Mart supermarket, Road no. 3, Banjara Hills
Ph: 040-30512844, 40020077
Cuisine: Indian, Thai, Chinese and Italian
Parking: Available
Price: Weekday lunch buffets priced at Rs. 200 per head inclusive of taxes. A la carte meal for two: Rs. 1000 to 1500.