Deepavali dining

Vintage India
This restaurant offers eight dishes served with assorted breads, rice, yogurt and pickles in a thali. Spicy Chettinad chicken, Nilgiri Korma (lamb in coconut curry) and Aloo Parwal (potatoes with pointed gourd) are the evening’s specials while mango-based cocktails ($14) and Prunotto Barberesco ($18) wines from Piedmont are available for pairing. Look out for the mehndi artist who will be on hand to apply intricate henna designs on ladies’ hands and feet.
1 – 5 November, 6.30 – 10.30pm. $38/$46 vegetarian/non-vegetarian.
10 Dempsey Road #01-21 Dempsey Hill. Tel: 6471 3100

Rang Mahal
A bastion of Indian fine dining since its opening in 1971, Rang Mahal continues its tradition of serving notable North, South and coastal Indian cuisine with a diwali lunch buffet that features tandoori lobsters, fiery curries and Rajasthani lamb chops. Also a long standing favourite with vegetarians, the restaurant has dedicated two live cooking stations to Hara Moog Dal Chilla (spiced lentil crepes) and chaat (snacks made with boiled potatoes, chick peas, crisp crackers, yogurt and tamarind chutney). Guests can take away sweetmeats wrapped in boxes that are studded with precious rhinestones ($38 – $80).
1 – 7 November. 12 – 2.30pm. $45
Level 3 Pan Pacific Hotel Singapore, 7 Raffles Boulevard. Tel: 6333 1788

The Song of India
In a four-course tasting menu, Song’s Art Palette—an entrée of six dishes—is the main star: it includes sea bass with a crust of puffed rice in a coastal-style gravy; Gujarati yogurt curry; and Spinach and Cheese Dumplings in Smoked Tomato Sauce. Not one for sugar-laden desserts himself, masterchef Milind Sovani has created lighter confections to end a meal including Crisp Figs Frostie and elegant petit fours.
1 – 7 November, 7 – 11pm. $60 (vegetarian menu available).
33 Scotts Road. Tel: 6836 0055

Shahi Maharani North Indian Restaurant
Twinkling oil lamps and vivid rangoli (Indian art decorations) adorn the newly-made over restaurant’s floors. Live musicians perform ghazals (musical poetic expressions) and Bollywood tunes during dinner, which is a buffet spread of chaats from Mumbai, Lucknow kebabs, aromatic mild Kashimiri curries and Orissa rasgullas (cottage cheese and semolina balls, cooked in syrup).
5 November. 6 – 10pm. $59
Raffles City Shopping Centre #03-21B. Tel: 6235 8840

Straits Kitchen
Over at the Grand Hyatt Singapore, Asian-themed restaurant Straits Kitchen doles out Tandoori Chicken, Roti Prata, Lamb Kofta and Dum Briyani in a lunch and dinner buffet. Sugar saturated treats including gulab jamun (deep fried milk balls in syrup) and burfi (milk sweetmeats) complete the Indian repast.
2 – 12 November. $41/$45 for lunch/dinner.
Level 1, 10 Scotts Road. Tel: 6738 1234.