Try authentic Chinese fare at Park Hyatt Hyderabad's Rika which has a new summer menu

Rika at Park Hyatt Hyderabad, revamped their menu that was introduced during their launch last September. Even though we loved their California Maki and Teppanyaki, we couldn’t wait to try their new additions. We were informed that a team of chefs were hard at work to cook more authentic entrées inspired by the Northern Chinese cuisine. Talking about the influences, executive chef Yogender Pal, informs, “We took a leaf out of the book of China House, Grand Hyatt Mumbai and our chefs trained with chef Xiangbin Li, who heads the team there. His understanding of the cuisine helped us make sure that the flavours remain authentic.”

While we waited for the food to be ready, we sipped on their signature cocktail, #2 Street Mule, a name that’s inspired by the location — Banjara Hills, Road Number 2. The vodka-based drink with grapefruit juice and freshly chopped ginger was refreshing. At first, we were served the Edamame Dumpling. We are always excited about edamame, as it is unusual to find this ingredient in the city, apart from occasional food festivals. The mildly-flavoured filling paired well with their spicy sambal sauce. There are four bite-sized dumplings, so make sure you order a full portion for yourself as it is too delectable and too little to share. Next up was the Crispy Pomfret, sprinkled with stir-fried onion, chilli and coriander. The finger food had a delectable upper layer and the pomfret tasted fresh. Our favourite, however, is the Garlic King Prawns with sichuan chilli and sweet pepper. The garlic seasoning with tempura batter crumbles is almost addictive — believe us when we say that no one can stop at one. This dish could be a perfect pair for beer and in-house cocktails.

The vegetarians can enjoy the Tofu Salad topped with hot schezwan chilli dressing. The flavours are really well-balanced in this dish, the taste of the fiery chilli is a tad overpowering but we don’t mind it! But we suggest that you do not leave without trying their Wok Tossed Chinese Greens from their main course. Topped with preserved veggies, this dish is supposed to give you a taste of authentic Chinese cuisine — warm, fresh and comforting.

Price for two: Rs 2,000. Photos: S Senbagapandiyan