There are some restaurants in the city that you just know about through word of mouth.
A friend tells you that the food is fantastic, you hear it brought up a few times in passing, and, inevitably, curiosity gets the better of you and you’ve got to try it for yourself.
Ritaj is one of those places and before we’d ever eaten a single bite from the venue we had high expectations.
While we enjoy high-end restaurants and eating in dining rooms that decked out like something from an interior decoration magazine we’re just as happy with a low-key, chilled-out, totally authentic meal.
Small venues that you might walk past without a double take.
At Ritaj there’s no song and dance, there’s no flashy design or logos, it’s just a traditional restaurant, an Abu Dhabi haunt that’s been the same way for years and seen a steady stream of customers keep coming back.
And while it might not be that much to look at, the food is where it’s at.
Specialising in Hyderabadi cuisine, it’s Indian food with a regional focus.
It’s the biryani we’ve heard most about so that’s what we get.
The special chicken 65 biryani has a reputation for being spicy and the chicken is bright red on first sight.
It’s packed full of flavor with cardamom and clove, the rice is fluffy and the chicken (which may or may not have 65 spices) packs a kick backed up by the whole chillies scattered throughout.
The mutton version is no slouch either. Tender meat falls off the bone and while it packs far less heat, with some cooling raita and Hyderabadi gravy, we keep filling our plates.
You’ll get fancier, and more expensive, biryanis elsewhere but for authentic Indian food stick this on your list.
