According to the team at Sthan M1, the essence of this ultra-modern Indian affair lies in its name. Don’t speak Sanskrit? Sthan translates as ‘place’ or ‘destination’, and that’s exactly what the owners have turned the address into. “A culinary journey that transports you to a world where the rich tapestry of flavours and aromas take centre stage,” the vibe at Sthan M1 is all about statement dishes that bring some theatre to the table. The genius part is staff pull that off without overshadowing the subcontinent’s globally renowned food heritage, which provides the foundations for many of the desi dishes on offer.
First up, though, the location. Found in the lower ground floor of a historic red brick apartment building on Princess Street, customers climb down the steps into a sophisticated, minimalist dining room with clean lines framing ornately patterned carpet, walls and ceiling. Open late into the night, there’s a fully licensed videsi bar, which plies an excellent trade in speciality cocktails. Onto the food, and you’ll find an easy to decipher menu, mains separated into different meats, fish and veg options, with plenty of classics available — Jaipuri and Bombay Aloo, Lamb Rogan, or Chicken Korma.
Less commonly found are the Dal Tarka, Lamb Chettinad, and Amritsari Fish & Chips. The latter takes the British staple and puts a kick in the batter, to incredible effect. A host of small plates inspired by Bombay (Kurkuri Bhindi, Pav Bhaji, Vada Pav), Indo Chinese (Veg Manchurian, Shezwan Lamb Sheekh), and Tandoori (Hariyali Chicken Tikka, Lamb Chops Adraki) are a big draw, as are the range of platters available to share. And this is before we come to the Chaat and Dosa selection. As you might have picked up on, Sthan M1 takes pride in presentation, and as such expect all those options to be served with finesse and exacting attention to detail, offering a memorable fusion dining experience.