The Perfect Indian and Asian Fusion: MASIA - Indian. Asia. Cultures, Noida Review

MASIA -  SECTOR 38, NOIDA

New Delhi, and the NCR, is no stranger to the influx of gastronomical inputs from other parts of the world. We have embraced whatever cultural inputs we've had from the various cuisines. But one particular cuisine has hit us hard ever since late 2000s. Before the Italian, Portuguese, American Tex-Mex, or even Middle-Eastern foods came to the streets of Delhi, there was good old Asian.

Remembering the street side stalls of vendors tossing up Rs. 10-20 worth of desi chowmein, chili potato and spring rolls. The explosion of flavours and textures was a bliss when we used to go out after school with our friends.

This robust and vibrant cuisine was the perfect compliment for the wide variety of Indian food available too! From the heavy and hot North Indian Tandoori snacks to the light and umami South Indian snacks. And nothing exemplifies this concoction of cuisines better than Masia, Indian. Asian. Cultures.

THE AMBIENCE

Masia, a venture by Sutra, in Sector 38, Noida is a thing of pure beauty. As soon as you step in, you're greeted by the sights and sounds of a pretty Masia, the vibe hits you first. The decor is absolutely beautiful and spot on. The walls, the floor, the ceiling, everything has been made to transport you to what seems like a very comforting homely space of a relative who has decided to move to the hills to enjoy a life in peace. The intricate woodwork and the color palate is very warm and welcoming.

THE SERVICE

The service of any place can make or break the entire experience, and here I'd like to mention the loving warmth of Mr. Manjeet, who looked after us like an elder brother to be honest. Ah, his recommendations, his smile, the way he plated everything infront of us. MAJOR #ManCrushMonday happening here. ( I KNOW ITS NOT A MONDAY DON'T JUDGE MY SACHA MAN-PYAAR)

But the concept of Masia is more than just a gimmick. They believe in doing simple Indian and Asian dishes, but doing it with poise and panache and perfection and other p-terms. Their service is fast and polite, which makes your experience all the more better.

THE FOOD

Coming to the food, man, they've got a goldmine here. And I don't even mean it in the metaphorical sense, they are serving out literal gold! Well, that may have been a metaphor but it's true! The food is magic. They're giving simple dishes a revamp like no other. Who would have thought of a South Indian Dumpling with Guacamole (Paniyaram), Mini Idlis with a Chettinad Mousse, a lychee and basil starter on a rice cracker! These are just a few innovations that Masia brings to the table.

So here's a short walkthrough of some of these simple, yet flavoursome, dishes that we tried at Masia. The Indonesian Broth was like a warm kiss on the cheek by your childhood crush on a winter morning. Just pure, unadulterated love. This broth was the best way to kickoff a meal. The warm, balanced broth was loaded with vegetables that set you up for a lavish meal to come.

Next up, the Mutton Bhurji with Naan was a literally oozing with flavour. The rich and heavy mutton bhurji was topped with a fried egg, the yolk of which oozed into the bhurji making it richer! This, honestly, reminded me of a good night out with friends just hogging away on some meaty mutton!

Another childhood favourite had been some good old Chili Potato, the starchy, heavy, carb rich dish used to fill us up. But Masia offer Crispy Lotus Root which just takes your childhood memories and ups them a notch. These crisp lotus roots are wafer-esque and are coated with familiar flavours of Asian cuisine.

I'm just so happy that we went with the chef's recommendation of getting the Laksa Curry. A smooth curry that surrounded some fish dumplings. The smooth and silky coconut based curry and these juicy dumplings, a dish that I've not seen any other place serve.

They also have a great selection for main course, our order included Lasooni Palak, Dal Maharani, Butter Chicken and a selection of breads. Oh my the food is so rich and creamy. The butter chicken embodies the souls of a million cashews. The gravy is rich and creamy and the chicken is cooked perfectly. The lasooni palak is exactly what you need to convince yourself you're heating your leafy greens. The Dal Maharani is a slow cooked dream-dal that all other dals have posters of at home.

We ended our meal with the Doda Barfi Tart which was a pleasant surprise. The warm doda barfi topped with a heavy helping of icecream in a tart shell. Ingredients that on their own are good, but together they make one fine dessert. There couldn't have been a better ending to this exquisite meal.

THE VERDICT

If you're heading to Noida, perhaps for work or leisure, Masia is a must visit for your gastronomical needs. It serves some great food and the ambience and the service make your good meal, a great one! Some places are just all talk and no substance, Masia backs their great looks with the food they're dishing out of that kitchen. Highly recommended!