The Mughal

Buhari Hotel, 83, Anna Salai, Mount Road, Chennai 600002

Instagram: @themughal_bhuarimountroad

Meal for two: Approximately `2400 + taxes

Chennai’s first “multi-cuisine” restaurant opened in 1958 above the iconic Buhari Hotel, a Chennai institution hailing from 1951 synonymous with the authentic biryani. For The Mughal, Mr Buhari Sr, the founder, had a vision beyond mutton and chicken dum biryani, besides local variants like Idiappam Mutton Biriyani. He wished to serve “menus from many lands.” The Mughal was in that epoch considered Chennai’s first “fine dining” restaurant. Nawaz Buhari, fiercely proud of his grandfather’s imagination, decided that the third generation must splash contemporaneity to the historic venue to honour his grandfather’s ideal to sustain tradition at Buhari – where, incidentally samosas are called samsas – but to be ahead of its times at The Mughal. And so, this restaurant just had a glamorous facelift.

The restaurant specialises in Persian, Turkish, Syrian and Lebanese cuisines. “The Mughals came from Persia and Turkey,” Nawaz explains, and hence Persian and Turkish dishes make for the restaurant’s unique features. The revamped menu notwithstanding, Buhari Special Soup, a rich almond soup tickled with curry powder, remains a favourite. The relaunched restaurant has diversified to include classic Continental and Pan-Asian dishes. Nawaz explains, “We need to cater to every taste.” Asked if this is in keeping with the modern Madras mantra to stay in business, Nawaz  vehemently says, “No. My grandfather always sought to present 'menus from many lands'.” Whichever land falooda comes from, it is a fabulous offering here. At Christmas, they serve turkey and Christmas pudding with grand style.

To commemorate the much-awaited unveiling of The Mughal, Nawaz intended something emphatically extraordinary. Take a look at their Instagram page.