This article first appeared in the Sep/Oct 2015 issue of WGM.
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GOLDEN PEACOCK
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| Casino Level 1, Shop 1037, Venetian Macau | |
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Telephone
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+853 8118 9696
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| Open daily |
11:00 to 23:00
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The Panda loves nothing more than the full flavors and vibrant colors of Indian food and he wasn’t disappointed when the opportunity arose to dine at Asia’s only one Michelin star Indian restaurant Golden Peacock.
Quality Indian cuisine has long been a favorite of the WGM team, so it was with much excitement that we were invited to sample the regional delights of Macau’s very own Indian fine dining restaurant, Golden Peacock.
Located at the Venetian just behind McSorley’s Ale House, Golden Peacock has already received global recognition since opening in February 2013 with its list of awards including a Michelin star – the only Indian restaurant in Asia to have achieved the coveted accolade – a listing in Hong Kong Tatler’s Best Restaurants Guide in 2014 and recognition in the South China Morning Post’s 100 Top Tables.
Needless to say, expectations were high! Golden Peacock sets itself apart in its authenticity, which shines through in every aspect of the food from the source of the ingredients to the bevy of chefs preparing it. Spices and other traditionally Indian ingredients are imported directly from the mainland along with specialty items such as clay serving pots and various cookware, while almost every element is made from scratch on property including all sauces and chutneys.
Head Chef Justin Paul – a native of Kerala on India’s south-west coast – has also ensured Golden Peacock stays true to the various regions it represents by employing a hefty team of 17 chefs with 13 of them from various places across India.
Having worked up quite a hunger following the long walk from the Venetian’s main entrance to our destination, we were guided through the busy main restaurant area – where the daily lunch buffet was being served – to our table in the elevated rear section and it wasn’t long before the first course of our sumptuous feast landed in front of us – Sona Mor Non Veg Platter!
This spectacular looking trio includes Kandari Murgh Tikka (chicken), Lassooni Jhinga (prawn) and Zard Seekh Kebab (lamb) adorned by a beautifully presented line of micro herbs and edible flowers. A colorful start bursting with an array of flavors!
Next on the menu was Spicy Tomato Shorba – a deliciously refreshing tomato soup enhanced by a strong smoky flavour that permeates the mouth – followed shortly after by another prawn dish in Jhinga Balchao.
Accompanied by dry chilli, roasted coconut and dry shrimp paste, this was again a visual feast with its wonderfully aromatic sauce spread carefully across one side of the plate.
The fourth course of the day was an Indian classic. Kashmiri Rogan Josh is a dish that has featured on Indian menus around the world for many years but rarely do they come with such refinement. The tender lamb melts in the mouth while the hint of chilli and unmistakeable sweet-spiciness of cinnamon make for a memorable dish.
All in all a hard one to top – until dessert arrived and did just that! Another breathtakingly beautiful dish with its carefully considered presentation and explosion of color, Anjeer Pista Kulfi has an incredible homemade fig and pistachio ice cream at its core alongside perfectly tempered white chocolate and a range of fresh fruit. The Panda isn’t usually a huge fan of dessert or sweet dishes but this one just might have changed his mind!
Golden Peacock is far from your typical Michelin star restaurant. Its adornment certainly isn’t subtle with the vibrant colors and busy decoration very much a representation of the homeland. More importantly, you can forget the exorbitant prices that tend to come with most restaurants of such esteem. With the exception of a few special menu items, most starters come in somewhere between MOP$80 to MOP$120 while the mains are generally less than MOP$140.
Incredible value, incredible flavors and incredibly hard to resist!
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Food
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9.0/10
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Service
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9.0/10
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Setting
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7.5/10
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Wine/Drinks
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7.0/10
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Value
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9.5/10
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Total
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17.0/20
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