Saar Indian Cuisine & Bar

Chef Hemant Mathur Debuts Saar Indian Bistro

"Serving up modern Indian fare, the restaurant opens tonight in Midtown Manhattan. Saar, which translates to 'essence of something' in Hindi, is styled in pinks and blues after Mathur’s hometown, which is also known as 'the pink city.' The menu emphasizes the ever-changing and multi-cultural aspects of India, featuring Parsi and Jewish Indian sub-culture cuisine with starters like cauliflower latkes and Kashmiri gucchi (morel mushroom) truffle risotto. Entrées include stir-fried Cochin black pepper chicken with coconut chutney; Kashmiri kabargah, consisting of milk-poached crispy New Zealand lamb ribs with onion, red pepper and radish relish; and cilantro-tamarind glazed tandoori tiger shrimp with rice and lentil porridge and lemon chutney. The dessert list features kaju kulfi, an Indian cashew ice cream with Tagmo chile chocolate, and unniyappam in the form of sourdough banana fritters with black pepper caramel. Saar opens tonight for dinner from 5:30 p.m. to 10:00 p.m., but will unveil a lunch and high tea menu in the coming weeks and brunch in the summer." - Marguerite Imbert