Essence at The Pantiles by Atul Kochhar

You're walking down The Pantiles on a Friday night, past the colonnades, and you spot this polished newcomer doing something properly interesting with Indian cuisine. Essence isn't your local curry house—it's a restaurant where Atul Kochhar's Michelin-pedigree shows through in precisely balanced dishes and thoughtful plating. The dining room feels contemporary but anchored, the kind of place where you dress up slightly without it feeling stuffy. Service is attentive without hovering, which matters when you're spending proper money on food. The menus change seasonally, and they take their spice craft seriously—these aren't timid flavours.