ISTA
Ista is a casual upscale Indian Restaurant with a unique bar and lounge area, adjacent to a contemporary styled dining room, and a terrace area for alfresco dining.
With its authentic Indian regional cuisine, the 50-seat eatery serves the same market of global travellers and corporate professionals who currently enjoy the plethora of fine Italian, Japanese, Thai, French and Chinese dining options in Hong Kong.
“The Ista customer has sophisticated tastes and international exposure to a wide variety of culinary flavours. In Hong Kong, there is no shortage of fine dining choices and Ista will now be an alternative upscale restaurant with similar attributes for Indian cuisine" says Orient Circle partner, Farook Jamal.
Ista’s dining concept offers a simplistic epicurean approach to the menu that is inspired by Indian street food. Divided into two core offerings, tapas and kebabs, each regional specialty is created using the freshest available spices, herbs, meats, fish and vegetables. The two styles of cuisine presentations are enhanced with salads, rice, breads as well as a rotation of daily house specials that are enjoyed in the traditional Indian communal eating style. Meanwhile, ista’s concise menu of signature curry dishes compliments the core menu of tapas and kebabs.
The menu covers authentic vegetarian and non-vegetarian dishes with an emphasis on balance, flavour, freshness and health. Food presentation is considered a key aspect of the dining experience at ista, with dishes served with a contemporary and innovative twist to keep the concept fresh and exciting.
Signature dishes include the tandoori chicken salad, chamman seekh kebab (cottage cheese mince coated with finely chopped peppers), gilafi seekh kebab (silky minced chicken cooked in the tandoor), aadraaki champ (twin chops flavoured with ginger and cooked in the clay oven and the haleem (Wagyu beef cooked along with whole grain wheat and lentils).
The executive and assistant chefs have worked and trained in established 5-star hotels in India and have been recruited to bring authentic flavour to the ista menu making it an incomparable dining experience in Hong Kong. The main restaurant seats a maximum of 50 diners with an intimate bar and lounge area immediately adjacent for 10-15. The restaurant has a chic and sophisticated ambience with attentive service. Ista’s wine list is assembled to specifically complement the distinctive Asian spices and flavours, further enhancing the ista experience, and distinguishing itself from other Indian restaurants.
As a first of its kind concept, Ista in Hong Kong is the spring board for the brand’s expansion into other Asian markets including China, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand and India in 2011 and onwards.
Ista is open every day and serves a set lunch from Monday through Friday (except public holidays). On the weekends, an a la carte lunch is served. An a la carte menu and daily specials are offered for dinner between 6:30pm – 11:00pm, while the bar is open every day for signature cocktails inspired by the cuisine.
