REVIEW | Diwan restaurant at the Aga Khan Museum
Ah, the power of social media, or maybe it's just my #FOMO (Fear Of Missing Out) but I've noticed many visits to the Aga Khan Museum lately on instagram. I was obviously intrigued and curious about what this museum exhibits, so when I was invited for a lunch at the Diwan Restaurant located inside the museum, I didn't hesitate.
Prior to my visit, I've mostly seen people taking photos outside the museum, which I attempted above (haha) and not so much of the food. I didn't know what to expect really, other than the fact that Chef Mark McEwan's has recently joined as the manager of food & beverage services.
The cuisine is an infusion of India, North America and the Middle East, offering lunch service everyday except Mondays from 11:30 A.M. through 2:30 P.M. In the evenings, Diwan caters to themed dinners and private events. There's actually an upcoming event on March 12 - details are at the end of this post!
Lamb Kibbeh
Toasted pine nuts, golden raisins, citrus tahini & shirazi salsa
Grilled Octopus
Green chickpea salad, Moroccan olives, sweet stewed peppers, sujuk & aleppo pepper aioli
Chermoula Marinated Prawns
Roasted heirloom carrots, avocado, labneh, orange-cumin vinaigrette & coriander
Grilled Beef Shish Kebab
Brown zataar butter, chickpea purée, sticky saffron onions & roasted heirloom beets
Gulab jamun, & caramelized pineapple chutney
The lunch was really enjoyable - the setting was lovely. We sat by the window and the all the tables were far enough that we could have a decent conversation without feeling like we're being too loud. The staff was friendly and helpful - perhaps the service could have been a little faster but it looked like there were only a 2-3 servers for a full lunch seating. The appetizers and entrees was delicious! The Grilled Octopus and Prawn dishes were my favourites.
We wanted the upside down cake for dessert but they ran out, so we opted for the rice pudding tart. I personally did not like it as it lacked in flavour. I really wish they had that cake!
If you're headed to the museum for Islamic and Iranian art & Muslim culture, make a reservation to dine at Diwan if time allows. The space is beautiful and a tribute to the cultures itself, it's a nice way to end your visit.
As promised, here's the information on upcoming events:
Reflections on Hafiz
Saturday, March 12
A stellar line-up — including such artists as Ostad Saeed Farajpoori (kamancheh, composer), Fariba Davodi (vocals), Bamdad Fotouhi (tombak, daf), Ehsan Gaffari (tar), and Sheniz Janmohamed (English translations) — celebrates the Sufi poet Hafiz, animated by the mystical whirling dance of Farzad AttarJafari.
Reflections on Rumi
Saturday, April 16
The incomparable voices of sisters Mahsa and Marjan Vahdat unite with the kamancheh, piano, and percussion to deliver exquisite interpretations of Rumi’s poetry.
Reflections on Kabir and Khusrau
Friday, April 29
Master sitartist Shujaat Khan and singer Ramneek Singh, known for her pure, meditative style, interpret the works of two beloved Sufi masters.
Dinners begin at 6 pm on performance night and are $75 per person (performance ticket price not included). To reserve, please visit agakhanmuseum.org.
- Our meal was complimentary but opinions are our own -
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