If you're searching for a fine dining Indian restaurant in Houston, head down to the Michelin Award-winning restaurant Musaafer, located in the heart of the Galleria. This place gives traditional Indian vibes, as it's more than just a restaurant. Musaafer is an immersive journey through India's diverse flavours, culture, and artistry. Each dish tells a story with picturesque food, making your mouth water with its presentation.
The restaurant debuted in 2020 and rapidly became one of Houston's most talked-about fine dining places, owing to its distinct combination of luxurious decor, genuine flavours, and creative twists. The word "Musaafer" translates to "traveller" in Hindi, giving its customers the idea of bringing guests on a gourmet journey around India.
Menu
The menu at Musaafer offers a wide range of authentic Indian dishes presented with modern flair. This is what I ordered during my time at the restaurant.
- Laal Maas ($36)
- Mango Colada ($15)
- Lachha Paratha ($6)
Laal Maas
Laal Maas, a Rajasthani special dish, featured smoked goat meat, mathania chilli, dried garlic, and millet brittle. It looked nice for the money I paid, but it wasn't filling. The meat was chewy, but the masala was tasty, with just enough spice to bring out the flavours. I paired it with the Laccha Paratha, which the waiter recommended to me.
Mango Colada
The perfect summer mocktail drink, which looked great on camera. A total refresher, tasted so good. However, the cup was so heavy to hold that I accidentally dropped it, but they kindly refilled it again. The drink contained Alphonso mango puree with mango nectar and was sprinkled with coconut pieces as well as ice.
Experience
Musaafer can be spotted from a distance, as it's near to popular Galleria in Houston. However, I recommend booking in advance if you want a table, as in the evening it gets pretty busy or fully reserved. When I visited around 6 pm, it was fully booked until 8:30 pm. As they open from 5 pm on weekdays, the only spot they could provide was by sitting by the bar, which wasn't comfortable. As a result, instead of waiting a couple of hours, I sat at the bar for my meal. I opted to eat Laal Maas after looking over the menu and seeing how good it looked on their Instagram page, coupled with Mango Colada.
The Mango Colada arrived swiftly, so I had a taste while waiting for my dinner to arrive. It took around 10-15 minutes to arrive. The staff were great and friendly, as they were unconcerned about me spilling a drink and began a conversation with me, asking if I was a photographer, etc., because I had my camera. The interiors combined modern and traditional elements, with round hardwood tables in the main seating area and sofas on one side. There were also outside garden-style seating areas, but they were all reserved.
Conclusion
Food: 7 out of 10
Service: 8 out of 10
Price: 4 out of 10
Experience: 8 out of 10
Presentation: 10 out of 10
Result: I've given this restaurant a 7.4 out of 10.
Overall, if you want a great dining experience at an Indian restaurant, I recommend coming here specifically for that. It's ideal for foodies, cultural adventurers, and anybody looking for a memorable dining experience. You have a wide variety of meal options, such as appetisers like Paani-Puri and mains like seafood, meat, or vegetarian. The service was wonderful, and I had no problems. However, the price was high since each dish was expensive for the portion, and they added a mandatory service fee, making the total extortionate.
If you're eating as a couple or family, you expect to pay quite a bit, as you're paying for the experience rather than the food. The experience was positive since I managed to dine here and see for myself how it is. Finally, the presentation was Instagram-worthy, since each dish looked excellent on camera.
Address: 5115 Westheimer Rd Suite C-3500, Houston, TX 77056 (inside The Galleria)
Website: musaaferhouston.com
Hours: Open daily for dinner, with brunch on weekends.
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