The moment you think Amritsar the very first thing that comes to mind is those kulchas, chana, fruit cream and of course the famous Golden Temple. But Amritsar is getting a makeover and over the past few months has seen many new dining destinations – one of them being this beautiful Pan-Asian place called Shiso that’s everything but ordinary. Promises to bring the best modern Pan-Asian cuisine to the city, Shiso sees flavours from Thailand to Japan.
Interiors
Strategically located right at the bypass road, Shiso is easily accessible to visitors from Ludhiana, Patiala and of course Amritsar. This restaurant is the first project ofVansh Aggarwal, Honey Mishra, Aftab Sidhu and Mankaran Johar who are all set to refine how Amritsar dines. Spread across a huge 8,000 sq ft area, the space that has been done byAayushi Malik of Aayushi Malik Designs sees much use of wood, stone, bamboo, and very interesting architectural elements.
Their bar area will surely make heads turn and there is a special table for guest looking to have an Omakase experience of sorts. And yes, don’t miss the chance to peep into their kitchen that is almost 6,000 sq ft yes you read it right. Outdoor seating sees an alfresco with cabana-style booths.
Asian Flavours on the table
The menu has been curated by chef Honey Mishra, whose name has been known since the days of Jom Jom Malay, a Malaysian restaurant in Delhi. Shiso’s menu features a diverse selection of pan-Asian-inspired small plates, such as the Enoki Bloom, Duck Tacos, Thai Betel Leaf Roll, Mushroom Kataifi, Prawn Crackers, and Shanghai Shao Mai with Chicken & Sticky Rice. For those looking to explore even further, signature dishes like the Lamb Five Spice and Seoul Chicken Pogi Kimchi Bao offer a deeper dive into the vibrant flavours of Pan-Asian cuisine. Their in-house varieties selection sees Dan Dan Udon, Soba Yakisoba, and Laksa Nyonya and don’t miss their Yakitori skewers from the lava stone grill.
The bar is handled by Madhav Singhal of Gastronaut Hospitality who has crafted the ideal pairings to complement the diversity of the pan-Asian menu at the restaurant. All their cocktails see in-house ferments. Signatures like Osaka Whiskey Sour, Tamarelo, Cherry Cherry Lady and more surely hits right. They also have indigenous rice beer and a rice wine which is somewhat similar to soju.
The Omakase Dining Experience
This might be the first of its kind for Amritsar – an Omakase experience. Shiso offers an exclusive Omakase experience that sees a chef’s tasting menu which has been curated only with a few selective dishes. For the uninitiated, the Omakase experience is a chef-curated dining journey, offering a personalized multi-course meal, typically featuring sushi or Japanese cuisine.