Mustard

Mustard is an Indian restaurant at 32 Race Course Road in Little India. It cooks food from two regions of India: Bengal in the east and Punjab in the north. Chef Radhika Abbi opened it in 2005. The restaurant describes itself as the first and only place in Singapore to serve both cuisines together.

The name comes from the spice. As the Michelin Guide points out in its listing, mustard is used a great deal in both Bengali and Punjabi cooking.

What to order

The menu is long, so it helps to know where to look. Starters sit under "Trail Blazers", with Kolkata street snacks such as kathi rolls and the Kolkata Chop. The chop is one of the dishes the restaurant marks as a signature.

For a main course, the Bengali curries are the reason to come. Try Damodar Chingri, a signature prawn dish, or Murgir Kosha, a chicken dish served boneless or on the bone. Doi maach is fish cooked in a yogurt sauce, and kosha mangsho is a Bengali meat curry.

From the tandoor section, called "Clay n' Coal", the Dhaniya and Pudina Chops are another signature. For rice, the Kolkata Special Chicken Biryani is a good choice. Eat your curries with luchi, a fried Bengali bread, or one of the many naans.

Finish with a Bengali sweet such as rossomalai. Ask for kashundi on the side too. It is the house-made mustard sauce, and it is sharp and strong.

Vegetarian choices

Vegetarians are well looked after. The "Farmer's Favourites" section covers dals, paneer and vegetable curries, including dal makhni and dhokar dalna, a Bengali curry of lentil cakes. There is also a vegetable biryani and a vegetarian grill section with paneer tikka. Beguni, slices of eggplant fried in batter, makes a good snack to share.

Good to know before you go

• Bookings: you can reserve a table online through the restaurant's website.
• Cooked to order: the Michelin Guide notes that all the food is prepared to order, so allow a little time.
• Groups: the restaurant can be hired for private events of up to 40 guests, and it also offers takeaway for large groups.
• Delivery: home delivery and takeaway are available for smaller orders too.

Getting there

The restaurant says it is about a two-minute walk from Exit E of Little India MRT station. Race Course Road is part of Little India, so it is easy to combine a meal with some sightseeing.

Nearby

Make a day of it in Little India. The Sri Veeramakaliamman Temple and the Indian Heritage Centre are both in the area. Read our guide to temple etiquette in Little India before you visit.

For another meal nearby, try Lagnaa Barefoot Dining or Madras New Woodlands Restaurant. You can also browse more Indian restaurants in Singapore or all restaurants in Little India and Jalan Besar.