On a rainy Friday in June, battling a bad traffic situation, Tapash and I reached the Royal Orchid Hotel on Old Airport Road. Tiger Trails, their new addition to their dining line, is a very unique experience. Located across the lush green lawns, away from the main wing of the hotel, Tiger Trails is a beautiful setting of open cottages of varying sizes, while also having open air seating. The kitchen for this restaurant is also out in the lawns, but suitably covered, of course! We were seated in one of the wooden huts, as the rains subsided, and it was really very pleasant outside. The setting is perfect for a romantic dinner!

The Open Cottages of Tiger Trail

Tiger Trail, Royal Orchid Hotel

We started our meal with their recommended selections of kababs. Tunday and Kakori were the first we tasted, followed by the Mutton Pepper Sukka. The Tunday was soft, delectable and delicious, while the Kakori was rich and aromatic. The sukka was also amazingly delicious, a little too spicy perhaps with crushed peppercorns and curry leaves, but no complaints!

Kakori Kabab

Mutton Sukka

The next set of kababs were the murgh gulnar and the tandoori jhinga. Well, the chicken wasn’t as impressive as the other dishes, probably because I felt it was a little underdone. But the prawns were FABULOUS. Bigger than bite sized tiger prawns freshly charred off the tandoor, with rich spices – it couldn’t have been better! With chefs from the Awadh land, the dishes were authentic and served with absolute finesse. Our waiter that evening was extremely considerate and helpful in suggesting dishes, and answering my numerous queries!

Murg Gulnar

Tandoori Jhinga

After a small break, we ordered for the mains. The Chaap Noorani sounded very intriguing, and Murgh Reshmi Dum Pukht was recommended from the house. The Dum Pukht chicken was very good, rich in spices and carried itself very well in taste, consistency and flavor. The noorani had 2 lamb chops in creamy cashew gravy, but was not as rich or sweet as it should have been. Disappointing that dish was. But our accompaniments with the curries were very interesting set of naans, the most delicious being the Kandhari naan stuffed with dry fruits and nuts and tossed in ghee.

The Kitchen

Tiger Trails was a very nice experience, in a setting that makes you feel far from the madding crowd. It’s perfect for a getaway dinner or just a quiet evening amidst the wilderness. Tiger Trail celebrates the romance of hunting, the excitement of a game and the numerous trails man has gone for, in search of the apex predator – the Tiger.

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