Food Review: Punjabi by Nature, Oud Metha

Dubai - If your idea of food is Rajmah Chawal (drools on the phone, wipes it away), then you're truly Punjabi by Nature.

When it comes to Indian food, its myriad ingredients and flavours, Punjabi food is perhaps the loudest of all. The madness and gusto of Punjab is definitely not for the faint-hearted.
When we stepped into Punjabi by Nature in Oud Metha, we expected a brightly-lit space buzzing with chatter and loud Punjabi Folk music. Even though the ambience didn't live up to its hype, one thing that immediately caught our attention were the funny Punjabi puns and décor that quickly set the mood for a plate of tandoori chicken, bowl full of dal makhani and a glass of chilled lassi.
From then on, the next two hours that we spent at Punjabi by Nature ranged from moderate to marvellous.
We started with Lassi, a traditional Punjabi drink made with a delicious mixture of spices, water and yoghurt. In Punjab, it is served in the end as a palate cleanser in large glasses made of heavy metal or clay, topped with fresh cream. But here it was served in a tiny shot glass, as a precursor to everything that was to follow. It was anything but plain, it had the thickness and complexity of a popular Indian sweet, peda, and saffron - made into a masterful street concoction tasted entirely different from what we have been gulping down from giant glasses until now.
For starters, we had Chicken Tikka, Amritsari fish, Seekh Kebab and Paneer Tikka. Accompanied with spicy mint chutney, my faith in the saying 'happiness comes in small packages' got renewed. The chicken tikka was soft, succulent and well cooked. So was the paneer. The charred crispy freshwater fish, though, stole the thunder of all the starters on my plate. Dipped in Ajwain flavoured gram flour and deep fried, it was a complete delight to devour. Having tried similar dishes at other Punjabi restaurants in Dubai such as Sind Punjab, and Patiala House, I can vouch for the starters here.
For main course we chose to go with one of the recommended dishes, Bhuna Gosht, which was stir-fried lamb with caramelized onions. 'Bhuna' is a style of cooking where the meat is slowly cooked and simmered for hours in spices. The meat was tender and ready to melt in mouth. It had an intense flavour and rich texture that you will only realise it if you are a die-hard fan and a discerning connoisseur of Bhuna Gosht having tried it over the years at a range of places. For others, the dish might just come across as tender juicy pieces of meat coated with spices and richly aromatic sauce.
I tried the Chicken Saag -- chicken cooked with spinach leaves. However, the dish being one of my all-time favourites, I felt it needed that extra punch of spices. But if you like your gravies a little easy on the heat, this is your dish.

If vegans are feeling neglected, then hold on because here comes Palak Paneer. Every Punjabi's favourite, the dish is prepared from spinach, roasted cottage cheese, cumin and red chillies. If you want to savour authentic Palak Paneer, you must go to one of the strictly Punjabi restaurants, as others usually get it wrong.
Then there was the traditional dal makhani - rich and creamy, that took me back to the north Indian highways, where you would sit at the dhabas and gorge on the dal full of rustic spices.
Overall for the main course, I have to admit, I enjoyed the veg dishes a lot more than the non-veg ones. We spoke to a few other diners. Some lauded the courteous service and others enjoyed the ambience overlooking the brightly lit Lamcy Plaza. One diner though said the taste of the naan (Indian flat bread) was a bit overpowering and took away from the rich delicious Indian curries.
With Indian restaurants spread in every nook and corner of Dubai, in order for it to become the ultimate go-to place, they might want to consider an extra dose of radical presentation. As for the food, the starters were a taste sensation and so were the vegetarian items in the main course. If your idea of food is Rajmah Chawal (drools on the phone, wipes it away), then you're truly Punjabi by Nature.

What we liked: The wittily designed menu card and décor with Punjabi puns
Must have: Amristari fish, chicken tikka, palak paneer
Cost for two: Dh120 approximately
Timing: 11:30 AM to 3:30 PM, 7 PM to 11:30 PM
Address: Opposite Lamcy Plaza, Oud Metha, Dubai
Contact: 04 5509181
Bookings recommended

• Food and Dining