Awadh, the land of the Nawabs, treats food with devotional patience. Here, it’s all about slow-cooking to bring out ultimate, rich flavours. Bringing the Awadhi cuisine to a fast-paced city like Mumbai sounds totally paradoxical. But, Ummrao Saaj in Mumbai has turned this into reality and quite beautifully, I would say. I visited the restaurant at the Courtyard By Marriott in Mumbai, and here’s how my experience unfolded.
Ummrao Saaj, A Royal Destination Rooted In Awadh, Refined For Mumbai
At Ummrao Saaj, tradition sets the tone for your experience. The kitchen prepares food inspired by the Awadhi heritage to deliver flavours that are comfortingly familiar yet visually refined. From the saffron-infused, slow-simmered gravies to the smoky dishes, everything that arrives on your table has been curated precisely under the guidance of Chef Gaurav.
The experience is beautifully blended with a bar that pours cocktails based on Indian Classical Ragas. Yes, you heard that right! An immersive experience where the mixologist, Shubham Masih, will guide you to play the xylophone, and based on the 9 swars, which are precisely Sa, Re, Ga, Ma, Pa, Dha, Ni, your drinks are served. Each beverage carries mood and melody depending on the raga. The cocktails unfold stories one sip at a time.
At Ummrao Saaj, it’s all about immersing yourself in a slow meal, engaging every sense.
A Space That Whispers Opulence Through Elements
The moment you step inside, a striking, flower-inspired chandelier demands your attention. Suspended gracefully at the heart of the dining room, it naturally draws the eye, inviting a pause before the experience even begins.
The dining room itself reveals another thoughtful layer with the addition of a private dining space that comfortably accommodates up to 13 guests. Gold and blue accents set a regal tone, while heritage design elements like the vintage clocks, an old-world gramophone, and classical Indian paintings line the walls, evoking the quiet grandeur of a royal residence.
Even the crockery plays its part in the visual storytelling. Varied in size and form, each piece adds depth and character to the table setting. Together, these details create an atmosphere that feels both refined and inviting. Ummrao Saaj is a destination that appeals across generations, especially for those seeking a luxurious dining experience.
Here’s What We Savoured At The Feast:
Raga-Based Cocktails With Bar Bites
Our journey started with the bar, positioned right at the entrance, where shelves display only Indian spirits. Shubham led us through their signature raga-based cocktail programme: 24-hour clarified, made entirely with in-house ingredients, and refreshingly sugar-free, where sweetness comes from jaggery.
We sipped our way from Sa to Ni, with each swar building in intensity. The journey starts soft and floral, gradually deepening with Indian spices that surprise the palate in the best way possible. Each cocktail arrives paired with a small bar bite like dark chocolate or fried chicken papad, designed to complement.
Apart from cocktails, we also tried their zero-alcohol cocktails, which were a game-changer and came with elements like Indian-mushroom oil inspired by the truffle, a pan and gulkand flavoured drink that was a perfect way to end your meal at Ummrao Saaj.
For bar bites, the chef whipped up a feast & here’s what we indulged in:
Khasta Kachori from their saaj menu is a must-try. The combination of traditional kachori, which would instantly bring a wave of nostalgia, is presented in a modern presentation. It comes with three types of chutney and is topped with a few chopped pieces of raw mango, which makes it irresistible.
Tomato Bharta With Khasta Roti: If you like comforting dish this one ought to become your favourite. The perfectly balanced tomato bharta is based on the modern version of chips and dip. We couldn’t stop indulging in it till the end.
3. Galouti Khaste reimagines the classic galawat kebab as a delicate meat pâté layered over creamy kasundi. It melts instantly and leaves a lasting impression.
4. Nargisi Kofta, made with quail eggs, disappears almost as quickly as it arrives, rich, comforting, and surprisingly light without that lingering egginess.
5. Vegetarians aren’t treated as an afterthought. Phool Musallam is a nod to murgh musallam, which arrives on toast with creamy layers and roasted cauliflower and broccoli. The Bhel, inspired by the look of a granola bar, plays with expectation
Soups And Starters
The Jau Shorba stood out immediately. Tomato-based, comforting, and enriched with barley, it’s served with a khasta mathri instead of breadcrumbs.
The Nawabi Paya Shorba is winter comfort in a bowl, rich and meaty, paired with mutton pickle for an extra hit of flavour. Murgh Dhaniya Shorba, served with chicken papad, feels like a warm hug that’s fragrant and soothing.
Among the appetisers, Ananas-e-Saaj surprised us most. Pineapple slices soaked in pomegranate molasses, lightly spiced and finished with a hazelnut glaze, turn into a full-blown flavour bomb.
Mains
Palak Dhudiya
Cottage cheese dressed in a green sauce made out of pureed spinach and charred to perfection. The added pine nuts balance out the perfect crunch element to the otherwise soft dish.
Mutton Galavat
The melt-in-the-mouth kebabs came with a tray filled with accompaniments. Also, the right way to eat is to wrap the kebab in a khasta roti with yoghurt spread in the middle. It’s hard to resist a second bite.
Murgh Goli Kebab
This one arrives on the table in a dramatic stone dish dressed in rich paste made out of emulsified kaju blended with garlic and lemon. It’s a showstopper dish and needs to be on the list.
Badal-e-Jaam
Uff, this one stands out on the menu. We could never imagine how aubergine slices could be cooked to such crisp perfection and generously sprinkled with spice. It comes layered with that comforting tomato bharta to add richness to the overall dish.
Maash Ki Dal
The comfort of dal khichdi and papad, but make it luxurious. These tempered white lentils are served with fried chips of lotus stem. You’ll savour every bite of it without the guilt but with a wave that feels full of home-made love.
Also Read: CT Review: I Visited Roxanne’s In Mumbai For Fancy Cocktails & The Salmon Pizza Won Me Over!
Raan Willingdon
Inspired by the Meat wellington, this dish wraps slow-cooked, shredded raan inside a khasta palak roti with a final outer cover of flaky pastry. There’s absolutely nothing you can do to resist falling in love with this flavourbomb.
Saaj Biryani
The royal dish arrives in a golden vessel that keeps things fragrant and balanced, mildly spiced and universally appealing, served with raita on the side.
Desserts
We indulged in baked Shahi Tukda that came with a frothy and light cardamom rabdi. Then we digged in kulfi falooda, phirni and Shakr-amba, which was basically a semolina cake that came with a side of raw mango sauce and was a perfect way to end your Awadhi feast.
How can any Indian meal finish without mukhwas? Well, right after our food, there was a charming chest sitting on the shelf filled with types of mouth fresheners.
If you are looking for modern dining with an Indian soul, it’s time you book your table at Ummrao Saaj.
Cover Image Courtesy: Hrishikesh Hagwane, Deeplata Garde