Iconic Indian restaurants Rang Mahal and The Song Of India mark new chapters

SINGAPORE – As eateries strive to stay relevant in the ever-changing food and beverage scene, two beloved Indian establishments – both renowned for raising the bar for Indian cuisine here – are marking new chapters. 

One of them is the 54-year-old Rang Mahal Restaurant & Bar, which, after 25 years at Pan Pacific Singapore, reopened in September at Naumi Hotel Singapore in Seah Street. 

The dark interiors and formal white table cloths of its previous incarnation have been replaced with chic hues of burnt orange, emerald green and gold in the new 78-seat venue. Its menu has been streamlined to focus on cherished family recipes and classics. 

The other is The Song of India Group, which closed its Michelin-starred restaurant Song of India in March 2020 after 14 years. 

While the group is not reprising the acclaimed restaurant yet, it has reunited with its former chef Manjunath Mural and, starting in September, is progressively rolling out three new dining concepts in a shophouse in Little India.  

The first floor of the new space holds the casual 30-seat halal-certified Indian Saaga, and the second floor houses the more upscale 28-seat Amrith. On the third floor is the 12-seat private dining outfit Varq. Amrith and Varq serve alcohol.

For veteran chef Mural, 51, each concept offers different price points while sharing a kitchen and manpower, which makes sense in the current challenging F&B environment.

He sees Amrith as a smaller version of The Song Of India, although he highlights that this is not the time to go full throttle into the fine-dining scene or pursue rapid expansion. 

He says: “We need to sustain all the brands while attracting customers with good-value service and quality food. The Song Of India will return one day, but in an iconic, standalone location.” 

Indeed, the need to adapt to a changing dining landscape prompted Rang Mahal’s relocation to Naumi Hotel, says its director and second-generation owner Ritu Jhunjhnuwala, 61.

Naumi Hotel is owned by Mrs Jhunjhnuwala’s family, and moving there allows Rang Mahal to also cater food for events held in the hotel’s meeting room, creating operational synergy.

While the restaurant still serves authentic Indian cuisine, it has moved towards a focus on communal-style dining.

Mrs Jhunjhnuwala says: “The dining scene is constantly evolving – people now seek experiences that feel more personal, inviting and connected. For Rang Mahal, staying relevant means staying true to who we are while embracing change. We don’t chase trends, we refine traditions.”

Find out what is on the menu at these restaurants as they mark their next chapters. 

Indian Saaga, Amrith and Varq 

Where: 38 Race Course Road, open: 11am to 11pm daily (Indian Saaga, Level 1), 11.30am to 11pm daily (Amrith, Level 2) 

Info: @

indiansaaga.sg

, @varqbysongofindia and @amrithbythesongofindia on Instagram

While the three new dining concepts by The Song Of India Group may be housed under one roof, they offer different experiences at different price points. 

For a quick and casual meal, head to the halal-certified Indian Saaga restaurant on the first floor. 

Its extensive menu offers snacks, sizzlers and briyani. Highlights include the Kashmiri Wazwan Lamb Rack Sizzler ($18), Cheese-stuffed Naan ($4.80), Nizami Goat Curry ($19) and Chicken Biryani ($15). 

On the second floor is Amrith, which shares a kitchen with Indian Saaga and offers a similar menu, but with a more formal presentation, at slightly higher prices and with alcohol options.

Signatures include the Tasting Platter Sizzler ($22) with lamb, chicken and fish; Fish Moiley ($16); Chicken Lazeez Handi ($16); and Assorted Naan Basket ($14) with a mix of plain, butter and garlic naan.  

Amrith will also be the main venue for events, and there are plans to bring in different kinds of cuisines from India and guest chef collaborations. Chef Mural will launch a brunch menu soon. 

Varq, on the third storey, provides a more intimate setting where diners will be hosted by chef Mural himself. It opens at the end of December and is by reservations only. Book three days in advance.

Prices start at $58 (vegetarian menu) and $68 (non-vegetarian menu) a person.

Chef Mural is also exploring event catering as well as private chef services at home gatherings.

Consider this chef Mural’s return to his fine-dining roots, having been with The Song Of India for 14 years before he opened modern Indian restaurant Adda in Beach Road in 2020. 

He left Adda in March and, while planning for The Song Of India Group’s restaurants, hosted pop-ups overseas and mentored young chefs.

Adda, which shut in July, is said to return at another location. For Deepavali, it sold its mithai boxes online. 

The Song Of India Group also owns an Indian Express outlet at Marina Bay Sands’ Rasapura Masters foodcourt. It had another outlet in Little India, which has been replaced by Indian Saaga.  

Rang Mahal Restaurant & Bar

Where: Level 1 Naumi Hotel Singapore, 41 Seah Street, open: noon to 2.30pm (Tuesdays to Sundays), 6 to 10pm (Tuesdays to Saturdays), closed on Mondays

Info: WhatsApp 9667-4244 or go to

www.rangmahal.com.sg

 

Fans of Rang Mahal’s Royal Set Lunch Thali will be happy to know that this crowd-favourite will also be served at the new outlet. It costs $38++ and offers unlimited complimentary refills under an ongoing promotion. It is available daily.

The non-vegetarian options in the Royal Set Lunch Thali feature Nawabi Chicken Tikka and Kokan Fish Curry, while the vegetarian platter includes Chilli Cheese Pakoras and Old Delhi Paneer Makhni. 

The coconut-based Kokan Fish Curry ($28), made with chunks of seabass, is one of the latest additions, alongside the Chilli Cheese Pakoras ($18), created by Mrs Jhunjhnuwala’s mother-in-law. The latter is a moreish snack of cheddar and cream cheese-stuffed green chillies, fried in a crisp spiced gram flour batter. 

Other new items include Nani’s Lychee Kulfi ($16), a dessert made from a recipe from Mrs Jhunjhnuwala’s mother; and Arshiya’s Chowpatty Slider ($20), named after her daughter-in-law, which reimagines a Mumbai street favourite she adored as a child.

The sizzling grill platters are showstoppers too. The Vegetarian Grill Platter ($44) includes Paneer Mirchi Tikka, Bharwan Stuffed Chilli Pakora and Chowpatty Slider, while the Non-Vegetarian Grill Platter ($52) features Tandoori Chicken Tikka, Tiger Prawns and Lamb Seekh Kebab.

These dishes, along with The Calcutta Pani Puri ($16) and Hyderabadi Lamb Biryani ($30), have been bestsellers since the restaurant reopened. 

Cocktails and other alcohol options are available as well. 

A compact menu of light bites are available (10.30am to noon, 2.30 to 6pm, Tuesdays to Saturdays) as well, offering items such as Garbanzo Beans Hummus and Crudites ($15) or Chilli Cheese Toast ($18) paired with Masala Chai ($8) or Lassi (from $10).