Dining

Lagnaa – Bare Foot Dining

By Veron Ang | Tags #Indian #Little India

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Little India. What a colorful and underrated place! I happen to be there one afternoon searching for a nice North Indian restaurant to dine at. Having visited khansama tandoori restaurant previously, I am totally game for a brand new experience.

From the corner of my eye a poster catches my attention. The handwritten directions on it lead me to a sidewalk at upper dickson road. That’s when I stumble upon lagnaa, a North Indian restaurant. If not for the poster I may never discover it.

K7 (his actual name is kaesavan), owner as well as head chef, coaxes me to take my heels off and brings me up to the second level of the restaurant. The unique thing about Lagnaa is that they offer bare foot dining. Isn’t this a pretty rare concept in Singapore?

Lagnaa

On the second storey, I am greeted by the sight of low round tables with cushions ’round the sides. Soothing atmospheric music plays in the background as I make myself at home on a comfy cushion. Boy, I am beginning to love this place already!

Masala Tea

Masala Tea
SGD4.50+

Remembering my first masala tea experience at rangoli, I know I simply must have it again!

“masala” is a mixture of many spices, so this is literally a spicy tea. You don’t really taste the spices as you’re drinking the tea, but the smell does infiltrate the nostrils a little. I love it!

Whilst waiting for the main dishes to be served, I tuck into papad (indian crackers).

Cheese Naan

Cheese Naan
SGD4+

On k7′s recommendation, I order chicken masala to go along with cheese naan. As for my preferred level of spiciness, 1 being the least spicy and 5 the most outrageous, I go for a 2. Even so, it’s already pretty hot! My tongue isn’t exactly burning, but I would have been in trouble if it’s any spicier than 2!

Chicken Masala

Chicken Masala
SGD8+

The chicken is, in a word, awesome! It looks good, and tastes even better! Even if the cheese naan wasn’t enough to buy me over, upon tasting the masala gravy I am completely sold! It has this vibrant and exciting flavor that’s super addictive. I’m definitely having it again at my next visit.

Fish Tikka

Fish Tikka
SGD10+

The fish tikka, unfortunately, doesn’t fare too well. It is a little too dry and stiff for my liking. The taste is rather bland, too, but it would probably appeal to those with milder palates.

Besides loving the food, I am a big fan of the whole bare foot dining concept. Some people may feel uncomfortable about going bare footed at first, but the moment they get down on the floor to enjoy their food, they will surely relax.

This has been a thoroughly satisfying and enjoyable dining experience. All credits go to k7 and the dedicated attention from his staff, kumari. Oh, there’s the excellent food and masala tea of course. Even before leaving the restaurant I am already looking forward to my next visit!

Lagnaa
Little India
6 Upper Dickson Road
Singapore 207466
(65) 6296 1215
Service:

www.lagnaa.com

Bus services: 23, 64, 65, 66, 67, 131, 139, 147, 857, NR6
Nearest MRT: Little India

Opening hours: 11:30am – 10:30pm daily

also in Little India

Khansama Tandoori Restaurant - Packed with Spices! Khansama Tandoori Restaurant – Packed with Spices!
Ananda Bhavan Restaurant - Wholesome Thosai Ananda Bhavan Restaurant – Wholesome Thosai
Sri Vijaya Restaurant - Just Plain Yummy! Sri Vijaya Restaurant – Just Plain Yummy!
Sri Kamala Vilas Restaurant - Chicken Masala Shiokness! Sri Kamala Vilas Restaurant – Chicken Masala Shiokness!
Mustard - The Many Flavors of Bengal and Punjab Mustard – The Many Flavors of Bengal and Punjab

News updates

February 3, 2007: My list of Best (& Worst) Restaurants in Singapore for 2006
- Winner of “Best Hidden Gem”
- Nominated for “Best Service”

For more on Sparklette:

About the Author

Veron Ang is the founder and chief editor of Sparklette. She lives in Singapore and has dined and traveled across the world. She also runs Sparklette Studio, a web design and WordPress development firm. If you'd like to connect with her, head on over to the contact page or follow her personal updates on Twitter: @VeronSG.

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17 responses

Leave your comment

Mel
November 30, 2006

hi, came across ur blog a few months when i was seaching for something else..ur travel n food posts certainly got me hooked! btw u could try essential brew at holland village since u’re so into bare foot dining. they got pretty similar concept, very cosy! luv some of ur jewellery as well =)
Reply
py
November 30, 2006

Thanks for the recommendation. I shall consider checking this out the next time that I go to Little India.
Reply
Veron
November 30, 2006

Mel: Thanks for the kind words! Many people have urged me to pay a visit to Essential Brew but I’m not so sure about that yet. I’m not exactly a tea person!

py: They have a full moon party each month where you can make your own thosai for free. That’s a good time for you to drop by :)
Reply
Beni
December 1, 2006

LOL… My mouth was watering as I went thru this post. And I had just dined. It certainly looks yummy. Would definitely try it sometime.

About the barefoot thing, the Japanese restaurants were the pioneers, I’m sure. Indian restaurants usually don’t do this, but it is very much a tradition.
Reply
Jevon Louis
December 2, 2006

Dear Veron,

after reading your post on the place, I’m definitely gonna check it out. I just stumbled onto your blog by chance and I think it’s fabulous. A helleuva lot better than some others i’ve seen.

Keep it up.
Reply
pinkie
December 2, 2006

hi beautiful blog you have! I think bare foot dining concept is unique! Will try this one day :)
Reply
DK
December 4, 2006

Veron: if you are not a tea person, then better don’t go Essential Brew.

I’m a coffee person. The last time I went there, I almost died on the spot.

Okie… just kidding.
Reply
wei ting
December 5, 2006

actually i fell in love with Essential Brew when i went there for the first time although i am definitely a coffee person. it was cosy and the food (mixed infusion, i think) is not bad. trying out the different varieties of tea they have to offer was a pretty refreshing injection to my usual cappucino. you could give it a try! :) oh ya, and like what they all said, your travel and food reviews was what got me here in the first place. keep it up! :)
Reply
Veron
December 5, 2006

Okay! I will check it out! Thanks!
Reply
pkchukiss
December 8, 2006

I don’t think I suit dining in that kind of place: when my feet is bare, I will tend to rub my feet on something (the bed, cushions, or something).

Disgusting habit to even imagine of, I don’t know how often they wash the cushions, or how many people have associated their dead skin cells on the fabric.

I’ll stick to fart-filled seats, if you would excuse me :-)
Reply
Veron
December 8, 2006

Uh, kind of a graphic description don’t ya think? Well I’m sure few people actually have this “disgusting habit” that you speak of. So while those cushions may not be sterile, they wouldn’t be covered in dead skin cells either.
Reply
Icarus
March 22, 2007

I totally agree with your review of Lagnaa, I felt in love with the place.I was there yesterday for the first time. With the usual crap from Muthus and the rest who call fusion and fine dining whats so ever this def sticks with the tradition. But the finest comes the place which run by the middle age couple. Their hospitality level is sky high. That is one reason enough to visit that place.I LOVE IT..Better than any crap that you find in LIttle India…
Reply
simon6726
June 21, 2007

After reading all the recommendation, tonite i will try this place. Hopefully, i can post the details soon to all of you guys.
Reply
Chandra Sekar
June 23, 2007

I’ve been to this unique place many times, and brought along some of my collegues and customers, they were surprising amazed with the subtle ambience and personal services rendered. And the food comes with a personal touch.
Reply
wanru
October 17, 2007

Actually the real thing that you should try at Lagnaa is the almond chicken. Its not on the menu, but it comes highly recommended from the friendly Indian female lady, and I’ve never been disappointed every time I order it!
Reply
Elaine
October 24, 2007

Actually what you should try is Curd Rice. That is not on the menu and it was some Chinese guy who went to India before who ordered that and almost everyone I know loved it except one guy who was not bused to the sour taste. But K7, the owner, hates it whenever I order it…maybe because it’s a lot of work. The Kashmiri naan is also fantastic. My sis commented the naans were not fluffy enough. Later I learned that they do the naan the hard way without adding soda so you feel fine even when you eat a lot of it, no bloated feeling. The chicken tikka and fish curry are my favourite.
Reply
moo
April 3, 2008

lagnna sounds pretty cool. my favorite kind of food is indian. :)
Reply