Sasha Tomlin Reviews Soulful Indian Street-Food at ADDA in the Heart of Singapore

What hit me first about ADDA was the ambience and playfulness of the venue. 

There is no way one can forget their travels from India as it’s a place that hits all senses. You definitely get this experience immediately when you enter this place. There is the hustle, steam and disorder of the streets of Mumbai and yet the dishes ensure that you are taken to all parts of India. 

Looking over to the bar area and with the music in full swing you get the sense that this place is totally ready to entertain you.

Growing up in North England next to the largest Indian population outside of London, I’m definitely used to my fair share of this cuisine. So I’m always looking for those popular dishes such as Lamb Rogan Josh, a soft and fluffy naan and since I avoid wheat…some poppadoms with a flavoursome chutney.  Touring the streets of Bombay with a good friend taught me an appreciation of Pani Puri and other street food favourites too, so I scoured the menu and could see immediately, this place is a crowd pleaser.

When the appetisers came I could feel the mouth drooling about to start when I saw a super crispy basket of ...Adda Fried Chicken (AFC) but as with the Pani Puri because they use wheat flour which I avoid, I thought this wasn't going to be a good start for me.

I wasn't disappointed with the appetisers though as the chargrilled lamb kebabs with mint chutney came shortly after and I paved the way to a wholesome selection of mains and time to try out some well crafted cocktails. All palates were catered to and knowing that the typical Indian spirit - whisky is not my thing I was keen to try Chai Ho and it didn't disappoint. Masala Chai with flavours of lemongrass and pandan with a foamy milk top. The cocktail menu has a twist of all the favourites and a great chance to enjoy the creativity of the bar team. The appetisers and cocktails get you warmed up very well for the mains. 

I was immediately impressed with the creativity on the bok choy cottage cheese kofta, these well textured bites sat beautifully in a rich orange creamy sauce, as the next dish came I knew everyone would be happy. Visually impressive, a pillow fluffy pastry lid came topping a casserole dish of butter chicken. I let everyone dig in as I had my eyes already on murals biryani dum pot. It was a well cooked vegetarian dish packed with spices and crunchy cashew nuts.I would recommend it as a side to go nicely with some of the other dishes instead of ordering plain rice. 

I definitely was happy to have missed some of the appetisers as that allowed me to thoroughly enjoy Alfonso Mango Pistachio Kulfi. This creamy Indian popsicle was packed with textures, creatively plated and was the perfect cooling end to a great dessert.

I would recommend this place to group gatherings that want a venue that creates good ambience with a wide selection of well cooked Indian food but equally couples wanting a little entertainment on a fun night out.

If you’re looking for some delicious Indian food, along with some excellent drinks, head over to Adda, and you won’t be disappointed, says Alpana Singh

With so many Indian restaurants in Singapore, it sometimes gets difficult to choose which one to patronise. So, on a warm, Monday evening, I find myself at Adda, on Beach Road, with a bunch of friends. The casual-dining restaurant was packed with diners on a weekday night, which is always an excellent sign.

With a beautiful kitschy bar in front, the restaurant has a sleek modern look, and also offers al-fresco dining, overlooking the street. We were ushered into our seats, and served a delicious margarita shot to kick-start the evening.

The music was reminiscent of early 2000s rap music, and pleasantly took me back a few years. The restaurant has a range of Indian-inspired cocktails, such as Chai-Ho, which had some interesting Asian flavours like pandan, and lemongrass, and came with a frothy, milky top.

I really enjoyed the Mumbai Express, which incorporated mezcal, an alcohol similar to tequila, with other liqueurs, and was spiced up with flavours, such as cardamom, cinnamon, and ginger, and served with an eye-catching garnish of bird’s eye chilli.

The friendly staff brought out the starters, which were mostly Indian street food appetisers. I am quite a snob when it comes to lamb seekh kebabs, but the ones at Adda were exquisite, and melt-in-the-mouth delicious, which Chef Harish Chand Arya informed us, had been magicked up in the kitchen.

Then came the platters of chaat, which is a set of savoury snacks sold by roadside vendors, in India. The ones we sampled were, the pani-puri, which came in a really cute, mini Indian chaat cart.

Pani Puri is small puffed flat-bread, filled with spicy water, mashed potatoes, and tamarind chutney. It has to be dunked into your mouth in one go, and you’ll be surprised at the myriad of flavours bursting in your mouth.

The dahi puri, again small flat bread,  and  the aloo tiki (spiced potato patty) were just perfect with the tantalising flavours of tangy, but slightly sweet yogurt, mixed with mint and tamarind chutney.

For the mains, we had a lovely fusion dish of butter chicken pot pie, which came in an earthen pot, covered with a top of the most exquisite, flaky pastry, perfect for mopping up the butter chicken gravy.

The chicken biryani was perfectly spiced, with not too many masalas, and one bite of it was just not enough. Adda also has a range of vegetarian fare, and I tried the cottage cheese kofta (little balls made out of cottage cheese), which came in a creamy curry, with a touch of fragrant spices.

All of this was accompanied by a lovely bread basket with a range of Indian bread in it, such as naan, and tandoori roti.

The evening ended on a sweet note, with luscious Alphonso mango kulfi, and a delicious gulab jamun cheesecake, which was decadent, and very different from the usual Indian desserts.

In Hindi, an adda is a hangout, which you frequent with your best buddies. Well, I can see this restaurant is just that: a hotspot for delicious food, heady drinks, and good company.

The hippest, freshest Indian address in town

Indian cuisine is hugely popular in Singapore but it has only been in recent times that more hip and creative concepts have emerged that twist the classics on their heads and add a large serving of atmosphere and classy cocktails to boot.

The latest of these more “modfunk” restaurants to open is ADDA – which translates to “a place where people gather for conversation”. Located on the busy and easily accessible Beach Rd the atmosphere is buzzing with tables filled outside and plenty of jubilant birthday revellers inside – and this was on a Monday!

The décor is hip, funky and fresh with an open bar and booths around the edges. The funk factor is further emphasised by the playing of early 2000s hip hop and pop music – the sort of tunes that will have you grooving in your booth.

We start with a selection of artistically crafted cocktails – mine is a Chai Ho (Asian inspired Masala Chai with accents of pandan and fragrant lemongrass) while my friends indulge in the Desi Negroni (Banks 5 Rum, Campari & Lustau East India Sherry smoked with apple wood) and the Mumbai Express (El Maguey Vida Mezcal, Amaretto Disaronno paired with cardamom, cinnamon and ginger syrup for that spicy finish, garnished with birds eye chilli). All are beautifully presented reflecting the seasoned mixologists behind these creations.

Our culinary journey begins with the arrival of contemporary Indian street food presented in an array of hip and exotic serving dishes. The Pani Puri (fried puff-pastry balls filled with spiced mashed potatoes) are presented on a brightly coloured trolley, while the Lamb Seekh Kebabs dangle from a curved stainless steel rack. There is a delicious Chaat platter with delicate and tempting flavoured street bites and the famous AFC (Adda Fried Chicken) served in the trailer of a bright red lorry! The gorgeous green Kolkata Momo dumplings (water chestnut and cabbage spiced with a hint of ginger) are bright, lively and fresh. All the appetisers are contemporary, elevated and tantalising expressions of traditional Indian favourites.

For the mains, we gasp at the size of the Mural’s Butter Chicken Pot Pie (chef’s signature murgh makhani in a pot sealed with a small mountain of flaky pastry) -  a fun and delicious twist on an all-time favourite. The Bok Choy Cottage Cheese Kofta (Cottage cheese bok choy croquettes served in a creamy sauce) is an elegantly presented and richly elevated take on this tasty treat. The classic staples are present with a bread basket of assorted flavoured Naan to mop up the good stuff and Mural’s Biryani Dum Pot (aromatic saffron basmati rice packed with spices and vegetables, cooked dum style) to satisfy any still hungry bellies.

Desserts are classy, creative and more reminiscent of a Michelin star restaurant than a casual, hip Indian eatery. We indulge in Alphonso Mango Pistachio Kulfi (a creamy Indian popsicle with Alphonso mango and pistachios) and Gulab Jamun Cheese Cake – a classic marriage of Indian and western delights.

With prices for most appetisers under $20 and most mains under $30 this is certainly a restaurant you can enjoy with large groups of friends and family – fantastic food, classy cocktails and funky vibes make for a decidedly fun and festive dining experience.