Panchtantra Restaurant – Syed Alwi Road [Permanently Closed]
Bringing Indian folklore to the forefront right from their name, Panchtantra is a newly opened fully vegetarian restaurant located at Syed Alwi Road at a stone’s throw from Mustafa. The Panchtantra is a collection of Indian fables that has made its way globally through their interesting story narration. So it is only befitting that a story unfolds here on the culinary journey that I embarked at in this North Indian gem. Added to a predominantly Punjabi food menu are mouthwatering chaats and kebabs. With a chaat counter neatly placed on the roadside, it also helps when you want a quick chaat bite as you finish your grocery shopping in the area.
The Orders
Most popular among the Indian chaats is the trusted Pani Puri. Keeping up with changing times, Panchtantra have given this popular item a twist by serving them as ‘Pani Puri Shots’. The fried puri with the ragda filling was firmly placed on a shot glass containing cold and spicy paani. The flavored paani served in the shot glasses are of two types: the spicy and sweet varieties , or as we say theeka and meetha paani. When it came to taste, this non-alcoholic concoction turned out to be quite good and is worth a shot.
Another sure-shot item to try in a Indian chaat place is the chaat variations with yogurt. On the owner’s recommendation, we ordered the ‘Dahi Papri Chaat’ which is basically a dish that consists of puris at the bottom layered with onions, tomatoes,sev, tangy chutneys and finally topped off with curd. But what clinched this dish for me was the addition of crunchy cucumbers – such a win! It also helped that the yogurt was not sour. For vegans, you can order the dish without yogurt and most of the chaat items can be modified accordingly. Highly recommended.
Elevate your lunch to a royal experience by ordering the ‘Panchtantra Special Thali’ – a plate that brings the authentic taste of Punjab right to your table. Please note that as of now thalis are available only at lunch time. For dinner, items can be ordered a la carte. The plate comes with a starter, three curries, one dal, rice, a dessert and garlic naans. For the starter, there was Achari Paneer which was tasty. The Chole/ Chana Masala was top-notch with homemade Punjabi spices perfuming and flavouring the dish beautifully. The quality of paneer (which was soft) made all the smooth curries taste heavenly on the palette. The Dal Makhani which is lentils simmered in an aromatic buttery tomato sauce transported me back to the dhaba taste in the fields of Punjab. The Garlic Naans made in the form of a small potli (pouch) gave a visual twist to the plate. The Gulab Jamun was delicious too.The food is quite rich, make sure you keep space in your stomach if you order the Thali. Definitely worth ordering.
We also ordered the ‘Patiala Shahi Thali’ which is a slightly smaller version of the Special Thali. By that I mean, this plate has one curry lesser than the main version. The Thalis are served in traditional copper plates and are quite heavy to hold but it definitely adds to the authenticity of presentation.
To add the refreshing touch, both the Thalis are served along with ‘Punjabi Lassi’. It serves as a welcome relief to the humidity of Singapore.
Due to its ample offerings, there are many more items like Kebabs and Jalebis that can be tried. Also, they have launched a 1-for-1 lunch deal for the whole month of July – Order any gravy from the Main Course selection and receive a complimentary Bread Basket to go with it. Drop by at Panchtantra between 12 – 4 pm for an unforgettable lunch experience starting at just $7.90.
Its so refreshing to see a restaurant serving authentic Indian cuisine getting added to the culinary scene in Singapore. For its use of traditional homemade ingredients, for its convenient location, for the variety in menu, for delicious food, Panchtantra restaurant is definitely worth visiting.
| In a Nutshell | Deelightful Rating |
| Cuisine Type: North Indian | ★★★★ |
| Nearest MRT: Farrer Park, Little India | |
| Address: 83 Syed Alwi Road, Singapore 207762 | |
| Timings: Mon-Thu: 10am – 11.30pm ; Fri-Sun: 10am – 1am | |
| Website: https://www.facebook.com/panchtantrasg/ |