Dinner at Shish Mahal turned out to be one of those meals that started with high hopes and ended with a quiet shrug. We went with the kids after my wife’s Indian friend recommended it, and knowing it once held a Michelin Bib Gourmand in 2016, I expected something rather special. The restaurant sits within Village Hotel Albert Court, and on first glance, the atmosphere felt cosy enough.

The food, to be fair, was decent. The tandoori chicken had that smoky aroma and a nice char, the pani puri was fun to pop, and the curries were rich and creamy. But that spark, that depth of spice and finesse I was hoping for, was missing. Everything felt just a little too safe.

I am particular about my biryani, especially dum biryani. The menu says it was dum, but I highly doubted it. The flavour and texture were just off the mark of dum-style biryani. It lacked the fragrance and layered softness that make a good dum biryani irresistible.

Service was friendly, but communication was a challenge. Our server could barely understand us, and we had to repeat our requests several times. He tried his best and was polite throughout, but it did make the dining experience a bit clumsy.

Then came the wine moment. I had imagined, with “Restaurant and Bar” in the name, that they might know a thing or two about wine service. Unfortunately, no. The stemware was rough and came chilled straight from the fridge like beer mugs. That was the point I realised I had misjudged the place. It’s not a wine restaurant. It’s simply an eatery that happens to serve wine.

Still, it’s not all lost. If you’re after a casual, fuss-free Indian meal with family or friends, this place will do just fine. Just go for the food and keep your expectations simple.

Shish Mahal Restaurant & Bar
180 Albert Street
#01-20 Village Hotel Albert Court
Singapore 189971