Michelin-Starred Chef Rohit Ghai’s Zarqash Debuts At The Ritz-Carlton, Bangalore

It’s not every day that you meet a Michelin-starred Indian chef, but on one cool Thursday evening, we shook hands, chatted, and broke bread with Chef Rohit Ghai at his newly launched restaurant, Zarqash at The Ritz-Carlton, Bangalore. The partnership between the chef and hotel introduces Bangalore and India to his signature dishes, along with a menu that focuses on Pan Indian and North-West Indian cuisine with a contemporary approach. 

Located on the fourth floor of The Ritz-Carlton, Bangalore, Zarqash is an addition to the new era of dining at The Ritz-Carlton — they recently introduced an à la carte menu at their all-day dining space, The Market, and opened Yan Yan, a modern Chinese restaurant. For those familiar with the surroundings, you’ll instantly recognise that this is where Riwaz once stood, the earlier Indian fine dining space. Open-kitchen, private dining rooms, and mood lighting set the tone for a rather indulgent and luxurious meal.

When asked what’s something that we must definitely try, Chef Rohit said Murgh Kala Masala and the Calcutta-style Mutton Biryani. We went with the former, along with Gobi Khasta, and a Trio Of Classics. The Gobi Khasta is essentially the chef’s take on the staple ingredient of cauliflower and elevating it by adding different textures to it. The filo pastry has a filling of crunchy cauliflower, and it’s served with dehydrated cauliflower, a cauliflower sauce, and a pickled cauliflower — definitely something that your mum would appreciate, since after bhindi, cauliflower is mostly her favourite vegetable, and then go on to say “I can make this at home”.

The Murgh Kala Masala is a full chicken that’s marinated in Chef Rohit’s signature blend of masalas that’s inspired by the Kholapur spices, and roasted to perfection. It’s served with an excellent jus, and you can have the chicken by itself or pair it with some flaky, lacha parathas. And finally, although we don’t have much of a sweet tooth, we were glad we ordered the Trio Of Classics. It’s essentially besan laddoo tart meets gulab jamun filling meets shrikhand frosting — and nope, it’s not too sweet. It’s perfect.

Apart from this, the chef also mentioned we ought to try dishes such as Lamb Shank Nihari, Cauliflower Steak Makhani, Tandoori Morels with Broccoli, and Raan Sikandari, a nod to his Punjabi roots. 

While we didn’t partake in the drinks, the beverage program is something we want to come back to try, along with the other signature dishes that the chef mentioned. Overall, this is a refreshing take on Indian classics, and when you’re in the mood for the same, you know there’s a place that does just this and more.

Timings: 12:30 PM-3:30 PM, 7:00 PM - 11:30 PM

Cost For Two: INR 5,000

Rating: Newly opened

Instagram Handle: @zarqashbangalore