Gin Rik Sha has an elegant and chic but laid-back ambience in which to enjoy food and drinks after a long day.
INDIAN cuisine is popular as it is a feast for the senses, thanks to the use of rich spices, its bold flavours and heady aromatics.
A plus point is also its versatility, where there are endless possibilities when it comes to pairing Indian food with cocktails.
Elevating this concept to an ethereal level is what Gin Rik Sha does in an unpretentious way.
It celebrates humble flavours by turning them into pleasurable, refined, modern and eclectic pairings of food and drink.
Moved from its original location in Plaza Damansara, the restaurant now sits in Jalan Kasah, Damansara Heights, Kuala Lumpur.
The elegant and chic but laid-back and homely atmosphere beckons all and sundry to unwind after a long, busy day.
Classical meals here are Kerala-forward, exuding innovative and bold flavour concepts that please the palate and complement the cleverly curated cocktails.
Take the well-loved Indian street food panipuri.
Elderflower Gin Fizz paired with Lamb Arancini and Bang Bang Prawns.
Can you imagine this deep-fried breaded sphere filled with spiced potatoes and onions served as part of a cocktail?
That’s the Panipuri Margarita, in the restaurant’s new menu. Talk about a twist for the senses.
There is also an interactive element to this appetiser in a glass, complete with a recommended way to get the most out of its burst of flavours.
You take the delicate but robust-flavoured panipuri clipped daintily to the salted glass rim, dip it in the hooch, eat the sphere and down a healthy slurp of the drink.
My response after the concerto of flavours was – wow! Complex, interesting and a clever way to add depth of texture with creaminess and crunch to a cocktail.
The cleverly executed Panipuri Margarita.
Each dish at Gin Rik Sha is curated to complement and enhance the flavours of the cocktails.
We were treated to the following food and drink pairings – Elderflower Gin Fizz paired with Lamb Arancini and Bang Bang Prawns; RoseSecco paired with Vegetable Manchurian Balls and Chicken Lollipops, and Lavender Sour paired with Spicy Tuna and Mango Chicken Papadoms.
The bar snacks and small plates look somewhat unassuming, but they are actually filling.
The tamarind rice stuffed with piquant mutton varuval topped with aubergine pachadi – a south Indian pickle – celebrates the beautiful combination of Indian and Italian-inspired dishes.
The Manchurian balls introduce Indo-Chinese-inspired flavours and were a treat to the palate alongside the prosecco.
Lavender Sour paired with spicy tuna (left) and Mango Chicken Papadoms. (Right) RoseSecco cocktail.
Refreshing and thirst-quenching, the Lavender Sour balances out the strong, fruity flavours of tuna and chicken.
Suffice it to say, gin really goes well with the high-quality Indian food here.
The standard of drinks are pegged as consistent and dependable for any occasion, much like the food.
GIN RIK SHA, 132, Jalan Kasah, Medan Damansara, Bukit Damansara, Kuala Lumpur. Business hours: 4pm to midnight (Tuesday to Friday), 8.30am to midnight (Saturday), 8.30am to 6pm (Sunday); closed on Monday. Tel: 010-243 8266.
This is the writer’s personal observation and not an endorsement by StarMetro.
