Tandoor

Tandoor is a North Indian restaurant on the basement level of Holiday Inn Singapore Orchard City Centre, on Cavenagh Road. It opened in 1985 and came back in February 2023 after a two-year break, with new interiors.

The menu draws on the cooking of several North Indian regions. The hotel says its chefs follow classic recipes and long-used methods. The focus is on kebabs, breads and rich curries.

What to order

As the name suggests, the clay oven is the centre of the kitchen. Chefs bake breads and grill kebabs in custom-made copper tandoors. You can watch them at work through full-length glass windows. Dishes that diners and reviewers often mention include:

• Mango curry: a sweet and savoury curry from the Mangalore region, and one of the restaurant's best-known dishes.
• Nalli gosht: lamb shank cooked slowly in a rich curry.
• Murgh makhani: pieces of chicken tikka in a smoked tomato sauce with cream.
• Khusk tandoori raan: a leg of lamb cooked in the tandoor.
• Kebabs and tikkas: including lamb chops and tandoori prawns.

Naan comes fresh from the oven to mop up the sauces. There are also biryanis, and dal and paneer dishes for vegetarians. Kulfi, a dense Indian ice cream, has been on the dessert list, including a version made with Baileys.

The setting

The dining room mixes a modern look with Indian touches. Back-lit alabaster wall panels show jaali, the latticed screens found in Indian buildings. Two pillars are covered in inlay mirror work, a traditional Indian craft. The room is spacious and well lit, and it works for families and business meals alike.

For larger groups, the Maharajah Suite is a private dining room with direct access to the restaurant. How many it holds depends on the layout, so ask the hotel about your group size. It suits work events, business lunches and private parties.

Good to know before you go

• Tandoor runs a Sunday brunch buffet on set dates. It has featured live chaat and dosa stations, tandoori dishes, curries and fresh naan. The spread changes, so check the hotel website for the current dates.
• Set lunches and themed set dinners appear through the year.
• The hotel lists the dress code as casual or business casual.
• Book ahead for dinner or the Sunday buffet, especially for a group.

Getting there

Holiday Inn Singapore Orchard City Centre is at 11 Cavenagh Road, in the Orchard area. Tandoor is one floor below the hotel lobby, on level B1.

Nearby

Pair dinner with an evening walk along Orchard Road. If you enjoy Indian food, compare it with the regional menu at Bhoomi. You can also read our guide to Indian food in Singapore or see more choices in our Indian restaurant guide. For everything else, browse all restaurants in Orchard and River Valley.