Madhu Menon takes his food seriously. You only have to talk to him once to realize that. And his restaurant, Shiok, reflects his amazing food knowledge and his commitment to providing an authentic pan-asian culinary experience to his customers.
You won't find any gobi manchurian at this restaurant (and don't bother to ask for it either unless you want a stern rebuke!). The menu proudly displays a huge variety of authentic Thai, Vietnamese, Malaysian, and Chinese dishes of all kinds. There are soups, noodle dishes, curries and satays galore. All the dishes have astounding individual flavor, which is amazing when you consider the hundred and some items available. There is fish, prawns, crab, chicken and beef dishes on offer in a number of styles. There are also a huge number of veg options. Veg food is not simply an after thought here.
Everything I have had at this place has been delicious. The Tom Yam soup is spicy spicy spicy with succulent chunks of chicken in a flavorful lemongrass and chili broth with mushrooms. Any fish choice is a delight... always fresh and flaky, never overcooked. I once brought friends here from Scotland and they declared the fish the best they ever tasted in their lives! Thai curries are rich and piquant, bursting with flavor, and pad thai is a lovely option for something a little lighter but still interesting to eat and full of flavor.
Pay attention to the cocktail menu, and be sure to ask if you don't see what you want. The bartenders are good at putting something together to suit your tastes. Desserts are also great here... I recently had a lovely one with fresh mango surrounded by fresh coconut cream topped with chopped mint. DELICIOUS.
Service is great... you will never be left wondering where your waiter ran off to. If anything, they are over-attentive... a rarity in India.
The bar area is a great place to meet up with friends and have a snack and a drink, and the dining room could accommodate larger parties if you call ahead. Similarly, the bar area can be reserved for large parties if you work with Madhu ahead of time. I hosted a reception there once, and it went perfectly... world-class service, food and attention.
smallsquirrel
