Deepavali 2024: The best restaurants to celebrate the Festival of Lights

For those craving the flavours of homely cooking this Deepavali, be sure to swing by Podi & Poriyal at Little India. The cosy space located underneath the shophouses is reminiscent of one’s grandmother’s living room and offers an outstanding, authentic array of South Indian cuisine. With its attention to crisp textures, gentle taste profiles and small dishes, the casual restaurant is fit for hearty conversation. In the spirit of sharing, go for the Podi signature snacks with podi idlis, street style pea chaat, adai bites and cabbage poriyal. Each dish is infused with a gentle blend of spices such as cardamom and cumin, which meld together without being overpowering. Dessert, of course, is essential. The black sesame halwa and saffron pistachio ice cream is unique, with savoury, nutty hints. Vegetarians will be delighted by the wholesome spread that refreshes the palate. 

Podi & Poriyal
Address: 486 Serangoon Road, S(218151), +65 6223 2812                                                                     

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For a mid-range family-friendly dinner after a busy night out, Zaffron Kitchen serving authentic North Indian fare holds promise for its attention to flavour and heart. Start the meal with dahi puri. A popular snack hailing from Mumbai, the round and crispy puri shell is broken on top and filled with various stuffing and chutneys. For something meaty and  substantial, opt for the lamb shank biryani. Try the chicken tikka, skewered, marinated with spices and yoghurt, and baked to juicy perfection in a traditional tandoor oven. Seafood lovers can opt for tandoori jhinga, a combination of grilled tiger prawns delicately marinated in ginger, garlic, lemon juice and paprika. A meal is incomplete without curry, so go for the seafood vindaloo, a dish of fish fillets, shrimps, calamari and vegetables cooked in fiery spicy masala. Round off with gajar ka halwa, a popular North Indian dessert made from carrots, milk, and sugar.

Zaffron Kitchen
Address: 137 East Coast Road, #135, S(28820), +65 6440 6786                                                                                                                                                                                                      

To experience tantalising Awadhi cuisine, one can simply visit the Singapore River, where a rich blend of flavours and intercultural influences awaits. Located at Grand Copthorne Waterfront Hotel Singapore, the location is both aesthetic and sophisticated. From October 18 to November 10, experience Sansara’s Diwali Menu. Commence the meal with a apple tulsi tomato shorba soup. Move on to appetisers, which includes a kathal ki shami kebab stuffed with jackfruit, bengal gram, cardamom, black cumin and clarified butter, showcasing Awadhi’s Persian influences. For the main course, dig into a malai anjir kofta curry, which consists of a cottage cheese dumpling, with fig, potato, cashew nut, cream and onion cardamom. The gustation does not stop at the Phulkari Pulao, an aromatic basmati rice with beans and vegetables, while dessert is a sweet baked gulab jamun with reduced milk and crushed nuts. Round off with tipples at Sansara’s newly instated whiskey bar which offers a craft Amrut Fusion Single Malt Whisky. 

Sansara   
Address: 392 Havelock Road, S(169663), +65 6233 1338                                                                          

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At Ammakase, feasting is round the clock with a unique Indian Omakase menu to liven your Deepavali festivity. The 10-course menu invites diners on a vibrant culinary journey through India’s coastal cities, from the lush flavours of Kerala to the bustling tastes of Calcutta, with a delightful detour to the exotic spices of Sri Lanka. Commence the feasting with a 10-course meal. The uppu kansam tamarind rice arancini surprises with its crispy fried exterior, melding to a tangy filling of tamarind rice and savoury dried mutton. For a refreshing twist, the mango pani puri reimagines the classic mango lassi. These hollow puri shells are filled with a luscious mango-infused water, delivering an exhilarating burst of sweet and tangy flavour that dances on the palate. For a hearty finish, indulge in  the lobster pepper fry, with onion, curry leaf and uppuma—chunks of pepper lobster served in a South Indian-style spice-laden pepper fry, and atop a bed of uppuma, or a dish of thick porridge made from dry-roasted semolina.

Ammakase 
Address: 392 Havelock Road, S(169663), +65 6233 1338                                                                                                                                                                                                            

For appetisers, try the panipuri, a popular street snack featuring hollow crispy puris filled with mashed potato, black gram & crispy boondhi. Mint & lor tamarind flavoured water is then poured into the puffed puris. From the Maharani’s specials menu perfect for sharing, go for the smoky tandoori lamb chops marinated with fresh spices and grilled. For more indulgence, try the murgh mamtaz, a whole marinated chicken served on keema pillau and drenched in a delectable mughlai sauce. Round off with classic jalebis, an Indian churro doused in sweet syrup or a dessert platter featuring gulab jamun, a deep fried flour ball soaked in rose water syrup,  rasmalai, a sweet paneer disc immersed in cardamom-flavoured milk and gajar halwa, a warm dessert made from grated carrots, milk, sugar and ghee.

From October 20 to November 3, chef de cuisine Kuldeep Negi presents Deepavali set menus that pay homage to beloved dishes from different regions in India. Commence the feasting with khumani mugh kebab, a cherished traditional dish from Uttar Pradesh in the North, with a succulent tandoor-grilled chicken leg kebab accompanied by apricot, yoghurt, rice and spices. Tuck into kadhai lobster, inspired by Punjabi cuisine and drenched in lobster curry. The Moradabadi fish biryani is a wholesome addition. The chef’s take on the beloved Indian biryani features a fragrant basmati rice with pomfret fish and saffron, garnished with fresh mint and coriander leaves. 

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From the vegetarian menu, opt for a tantalising kofta shaam savera with paneer wrapped in green kofta, doused in orange-tinged tomato gravy. Round of the meal with a decadent akhrot halwa, walnut pudding with mixed nuts exquisitely paired with 1985 Dalva Port. Wine tastings are also available, helmed by Raffles Hotel’s in-house sommeliers.                                                                                                                                                  

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