It was a beautiful Spring evening in Pretoria. We had a babysitter and the balmy weather had us craving a slow evening of dining – preferably somewhere outside. And Modern Tailors Ambassador in Groenkloof checked all our boxes.
A bright yellow canopy and a green and white checkered floor invited us up a wooden staircase to the restuarant’s regal entrance. We were immediately ushered to a cozy table on the eatery’s small balcony. The balcony, like the inside dining space, is designed to make you feel as if you have stepped into another time and world.
Although Modern Tailors Ambassador has an impressive drinks offering, it was the food menu that had Peet and I excited. Chef Jessica Munisamy and her team offer, what can only be described as, the most authentic and delicious Indian cuisine in Pretoria.
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We started with their small plates of street food. We only planned on sharing one plate as a light starter, but ended up ordering a few of these delicious dishes of which the Pani Puri was our favourite. The dish consists of five small light crispy pockets stuffed with fillings and topped with a sev, a coriander and mint ‘Pani’ infusion (of which I could happily have drank a glass of). We could choose between three filling options. We opted for the chicken and Put-put chutney filling which we enjoyed so much that we ordered a second plate – but this time with a filling of Chickpea Masala, Garlic Almond Pickle and Kachumber. You would think by this time we were ready to move on to mains, but we just couldn’t resist trying another small plate. This time it was the Cauliflower Croquettes served with a homemade cumin and tomato chilli jam that was to die for.
There was quite a bit of indecisiveness when it came to the mains. After studying the menu for some time Peet opted for one of the restaurant’s signature dishes, the Lamb Rogan Josh, which consists of boneless lamb slow cooked with Kashmiri chilli, ginger, yogurt and spices and finished with roasted green peppers and onions. While Peet chose the more adventurous and spicer dish, I opted for the Pistachio Korma. This mild sauce of yogurt, cream, cashews and pistachios infused with ginger, garlic and spices can be ordered with lamb, chicken or chickpeas. I had the chicken and it was divine.
Although the dessert menu is small, it offers something for everyone. And it had us wishing we had not eaten such big mains. Being a huge fan of Creme Brûlée Peet ordered their Rose and Cardamon version, while I opted for three scoops of their homemade ice cream, of which the roasted cashew and raisin ice cream was my favourite by far.
An evening at Modern Tailors Ambassador is so much more than a meal…it is a gift to your senses. Modern Tailors Ambassador is deserving of the title ‘best Indian restuarant in Pretoria’ and a must-visit for any foodie when in Pretoria.
xxx
