RAJ, the first modern Indian restaurant in Malate,
Philippines, caters to the senses. This is what owner DJ Montano likes his first restaurant to be. DJ used to work as the operations manager for Colin McKay (owner of People's Palace) so it's not surprising that he too, got the services of architedt John Tan to do the layouts.
The trademarks are all there; clean lines, padded walls, big ornamental plants plus some charming details like studded pillows, plastic flowers, silver leaves, velvet stools, lavender curtains, sitar music and an incense scent all over.
DJ studied in Les Roches in Switzerland and later went to London to do further research on Indian Food. Raj's menu, a cross section of India's multi-regional cuisine was the fruit of his labor.
Now with our favorites: start with Mulligatawny, a tomato and lamb based soup that's great with an unleavened bread chapati. For the main dish, it's a toss between Meen Molee, a grouper fillet simmered in spiced coconut milk and banana leaf or Chicken Tandoori, chicken barbecue served with tomato, onion rings and lemon.
As a side dish, you can order any of the chatinis of fresh Indian pastes made of herbs, oil and spices or try the four samplers . For the dessert, we like the soft Indian carrot cake Gaijar Halwah.
Overall, we like Raj though we find the food a little bit pricey. Take note also that there's one table in the second floor that's too low, we have to eat with our hips pressed to one side.
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