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ROTI - Alka's Kitchen - Clementi

Reflecting back on 2013, one of the most promising new eateries that opened up was certainly ROTI-Alka's Kitchen.  Inevitably I was bound to return once again in 2014, this time I wanted to focus my review on one of their special festive set meals.  For those wanting to read my first thoughts on this eatery, you can check out my first review HERE.

















ROTI - Alka's Kitchen
Location: #B1-22/23, 154 West Coast Road, West Coast Plaza
Contact: 67740422
Opening Hours: Daily 10.00am-10.00pm


Here is a poster which promotes the consumption of whole grains.
Those who visit ROTI-Alka's will probably see owner and head chef Madam Alka C Mehta working away in the kitchen.  For what its worth, I think Madam Alka is one of the most talented vegetarian chefs in Singapore.  I love her food, and more importantly, I love her attitude and infectious fascination with the world of food.  Even though she has been cooking for 24 years, been a winner of numerous cooking competitions and has a masters degree in Food Science & Nutrition - She is still humble, and still has a completely open mind to learning new things.  This mindset is rare in the world of food these days.
The signature dish at Alka's is the Roti Wrap, which the restaurant coined its name.  This wrap is entirely customizable, where customers can choose the ingredients inside, as well as the type of paratha/roti.  I got the spinach roti.  I really loved the roti wraps during my first visit, and I was pleased to see they were just as delicious as the first time.  Definitely a dish you must order when visiting Alka's.

Price: $6.50.     8/10


For this review, the dish I am most excited to share with you is the Mutton Tikka.  This skewer style dish is so ridiculously good I could barely contain the fireworks show that was taking place within me.  This dish consists of two skewers, with mock mutton, capsicum, tomato and red onion stabbed together.  Although Alka's doesn't have a tandoor (yet, they will soon), there is still a lovely smokey aroma on the ingredients.  Even more impressive - This is vegan.  All tikka tandoori style items usually have yogurt in the marinate, to thicken the mixture and add sourness.  Chef Alka has amazingly been able to make the marinate without dairy, so vegans can enjoy.  If things weren't amazing enough, the skewers are served alongside a sensational sesame sauce/chutney.  I could happily drink this sauce by itself, and it matched expertly with the skewers.  A little less salt, and a sprinkling of lime would have made it even more perfect.

Price: $6.00.     9/10


Regular visitors to ROTI-Alka's will often see special promotions and set meals, which usually coincide with festive periods in Singapore.  At the time of visiting, there was a special 5-Course Chinese New Year Indo-Chinese Meal.  The following dishes were ones I sampled from that aforementioned meal...
Indo-Chinese food has been attempted in a couple of restaurants in Singapore - But none that are 100% vegetarian.  I really like the idea of fusion food, as it creates a unique niche market for Alka's.  First up was the Manchow Soup.  This soup certainly manages to capture the traditional Chinese flavours.  Personally, when I ever eat a soup like this, I need to add black rice vinegar.  This sweet and sour vinegar really takes otherwise mundane soups to another level.

7/10 


One of the appetizer dishes on the menu is Steamed Momos.  The name 'momo' is something many people have heard of, but few people actually know what it is.  Momo is essentially a white-skinned steamed dumpling (not too dissimilar to Chinese 'jiao zi') that is popular in Nepal (its birth place), Tibet, Bhutan and certain regions of Northern India.  These dumplings are very filling, and have a good moist and chewy outer skin.  Steamed dumplings are not something I particularly enjoy - But if you do, then surely you will enjoy this appetizer.

7/10


Maybe I was an Indian in one of my past lives.  Indian food puts a smile on my face, and satisfies my stomach more than any other food cuisine can.  Pani Puri is an example of an Indian chaat that has managed to break into mainstream popularity.  It is a simple dish, that is fun to eat and is full of flavour (like all Indian food).  The key to good pani puri is the quality of the chutneys used.  Also, the olive green murky tamarind water, which should be poured into the hollow shell, needs to be perfect.  This water can be an acquired taste, as it has a strong eggy smell - No this is not real egg - This is kala namak, also known as black salt.  Lovely snack.

8/10
In the quest to offer more familiar dishes to the local crowd, Laksa has been added to the CNY menu.  To manage your expectations, this is not a 'traditional' (if there is such a thing) tasting laksa.  Instead, this is more fusion-style.  Inside the bowl, one can kind beancurd, mock prawn, mock chicken and other tasty goodies.  Although a valiant attempt, I found the laksa gravy a little one dimensional.  Particularly lacking in the typical punch of lemongrass.  A reduction in the overpowering garlic flavour would be better too.  With some adjustments I am sure this dish will improve leaps and bounds.

6/10
Another vegan dish on their menu is the Chicken Manchurian.  Aside from Gokul, Alka's is one of the few Indian restaurants that actually use mock meats in their cooking.  Generally, you won't see Indian restaurants using mock meat.  The flavours of this dish are quite similar to the manchow soup.  Instead, the sauce is much starchier and overall is quite pleasant.  It especially goes well with the mock chicken.

7/10



In Chef Alka's quest to make more items vegan friendly, she has concocted a vegan Suji Halwa dessert.  For those who know Indian desserts, you will know they are very milk, ghee and sugar heavy.  Therefore, to create a vegan Indian dessert is an achievement alone.  The suji (semolina) was well roasted and had great flavour.  Chef Alka uses considerably less sugar to make it more healthy.

7/10


Conclusion - ROTI-Alka's is an eatery that is ever evolving and improving, so it will be interesting to see what direction it goes in the future.  I like how they are now offering fusion food, but still have their delicious Indian items available as well.  Needless to say, the mutton tikka is a dish you simply must order.

Overall Rating
Food - 8/10
Ambiance- 8/10
Service - 10/10
Value - 8/10

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