Navadhanya is an award-winning, fine dining Indian restaurant in Cambridge which first opened in 2014, helmed by cousins Krishna Vijayakumar and Arun K Chandran. The restaurant's concept seeks to champion the highest quality of Indian cuisine, providing a luxurious, fine dining experience. While traditional flavours and methods are honoured, the team here are always looking to the future, and see their dishes as contemporary expressions of what Indian cuisine looks like today - both in taste and presentation.
The space's decor harks to this with well thought out, stylish furnishings which offer a different vibe and experience across the restaurant. For example, the main dining room favours dark, earthy tones and natural materials like rustic, exposed brick walls and wooden panelling. While the private dining spaces boast a sleeker vibe, with neutral-toned seating and low lighting.
There's plenty of choice across the selection of menus, including early bird, a la carte and a seven-course taster menu, with options for vegans and vegetarians. To get an idea of what to expect when indulging in the fine dining experience, the classic taster menu begins with scallop moilee which is seared scallops with clamp moilee, mango chilly salsa, dried shrimp and charcoal leaf. Next, diners can enjoy the lamb pulao with grilled lamb chops, bone marrow sauce and jakhiya potato. While dessert might look like tender coconut panna cotta with elaneer payasam, berries and alphonso mango sorbet.
All taster menus are available with a wine flight, expertly picked by the team. If you'd prefer to pick your own dishes, the a la carte menu has plenty of choice spanning nearly 30 dishes in total. We like the sound of the rabbit nihari with rabbit leg, mace, green cardamom and caramelised onions, as well as sides like baingan bharta which is smoked aubergine mash with garlic, cumin and turmeric.