Sweet Surprise

Khajuraho joins Beijing’s Indian dining scene with quite a few memorable dishes to make up for a name so hard to remember. It’s the fourth branch of an international chain that also has outlets in Russia and Mongolia. Khajuraho boasts sophisticated though eclectic décor and a Western-influenced menu of Indian classics. The tomato shorba (¥20) with cilantro and Indian spices is rich and salty. The Caesar salad is made in a Russian style, with no anchovies and some dill. It’s a delicious and very surprising addition to the traditional Indian menu. The sweet and salty lassis (¥18) are cheaper than the ones at Ganges, but they taste perfect. The chef’s specialty—a thick, creamy Goanese prawn curry (¥62) cooked with imported coconuts—was the highlight of our meal. We recommend ordering a combo meal (¥110), which comes with palak paneer, aloo gobi mattar (a delicious combination of potatoes, peas and cauliflower), bhindi dopiaza (fried onion, tomato, ginger and garlic) and mixed dal. Desserts here are a pleasant surprise—we suggest the ras malai (¥18). This Indian milk dessert is cooked for five hours with condensed milk, until it turns into a crispy bun, served with crushed almonds, pistachios and cardamom. The Indian ice-cream—pista kulfi (¥20)—is prepared in the same elaborate way, but served frozen.

Inna Levinson, March, 2012