KHAZANA Toronto - by Chef Sanjeev Kapoor — Restaurant in Toronto

We finally found the gem we were after, and my only complaint is why wasn't this restaurant opened sooner!!!!!! They deserve a million stars, 5 stars won't do justice!

It was a rainy Saturday evening, and we were shopping at Nordstrom when a signboard which read ‘Khazana by Chef Sanjeev Kapoor’ caught my attention leaving me surprised and intrigued. Padma-Shri MasterChef Sanjeev Kapoor is an emotion who not only ignited a passion for cooking in all of us, but also instilled a huge respect for our Indian cooking techniques, an epic history, intricacies of ingredients and most importantly our rich and diverse culture. I was on cloud9 when I saw the restaurant was in full service and then a chain of thoughts at supersonic speed started hinting, so it’s under a mile from our home so I ought to start ordering from here, my weekends are sorted!!! Well, it didn’t take a second for us to decide that we are going in, yes without any reservation, without being dressed for the occasion, we just walked in.

We were welcomed by a cheerful lady who very kindly accommodated us without a reservation (it gets busier in the evening so would highly recommend reserving a table in advance). The first impression we had was “cool, they got the oomph factor” and I started mentally checking all the boxes off. The décor seems impressive, staff seem very warm, place looks hygienic, and it does set a perfect ambience for a mesmerizing evening, so we were all buckled up for the immersive and memorable experience this restaurant was about to offer!

We ordered Alphonso Mango Lassi which was very refreshing and did scream “Alphonso-King of Mangoes” in every sip! From the appetizer menu, we ordered Original Recipe Bhatti Murg Tikka, which was very well presented, was cooked to perfection, had that subtle “tandoor” flavour and was outstandingly delectable. There was a decent wait among each course which was appreciated by my spouse and I as that gave us enough to time to have a hearty conversation. From the main course menu, we ordered the Kaali Kadhai Chicken with Garlic and Chive Naan. The appetizer had set the bar so high that we had to dig in immediately when the main arrived and boy it won our palates and hearts!!!! The chicken was succulent, bursting with kaleidoscopic flavours, the spice level was to our liking and its match with the pillowyyy soft naan took the whole experience to another level. We ordered their Salan Murg Biryani to go as we were full to our hearts content but didn’t want to miss out on trying that. An Indian dining experience feels incomplete without a Biryani- fit for the king, innit!! When we opened the container, the aroma set the stage for an amazing gastronomic experience, we were about to dive in, and boy did each morsel tantalised our palate harmoniously!!!!! Chef Akshay Nayyar had cent percent delivered on-Taste, Creativity, Emotion, Appeal and Passion.

The servers had checked on us a few times throughout our meal and ensured we were enjoying it. When we sat there with satiated hearts and tummies, Tarannum very kindly shared the restaurant and Chef’s journey so far and introduced us to the Celebrity Chef Akshay Nayyar and we were so glad to share with him how his efforts resonated with our emotions, and he has already succeeded in creating a bond. I sincerely hope his creativity and innovation resonate with everyone and this restaurant is seen as an epitome of Indian cuisine and hospitality in Canada.

In a nutshell, we enjoyed our dinner at Khazana-Toronto by Chef Sanjeev Kapoor, and it managed to put a sparkle to our evening!!!! My long review must have made it evident already!!

Decor: Treat for the eyes!!!! Food: Interesting modern take on traditional Indian delicacies!!!!! Must try: Everything we tried was scrumptious, so just go for it and maybe more!!!!! For all the courses: Taste, texture and temperature were perfectttt!!!!! Service: Exemplary!!!!

Cheers to many more such wonderful and memorable...

Khazana is a modern fine dining Indian restaurant located in the heart of Toronto near the Eaton Centre and Yonge-Dundas Square. The chefs in this Toronto restaurant are trained by celebrity chef, Sanjeev Kapoor. Khazana’s other locations can be found in Milton, Brampton and Hamilton.

The modern fusion menu showcases foods influenced by many regions in India. The chefs focus on using quality ingredients.

The dine in and takeout menus are accessible through QR code system.

I came here with hubby and a small group. We chose a variety of menu items including:

Appetizers: Black Forest Truffle Chicken Tikka ($27) Clay oven charred chicken morsels with a mushroom and truffle marinade and mathania chili cream. Served on a skewer and bed of naan.

Original Recipe Bhatti Murg Tikka ($23) The original recipe chicken tikka with home made spice marinade, and served with mint onion chutney.

Sous Vide Lamb Chops ($32) Buttered asparagus, Andhra potatoes, mint and cashew sauce. The lamb was tender and perfectly cooked.

Jodhpuri Papad Paneer Tikka ($22) West Indian chilli marinated cottage cheese, loaded with crunchy papadums & served with mathania peri-peri dip.

Tandoori Parmesan Soya Chaap ($20) 24 hour marinated charred smokey soya skewers, parmigiana gremolata torched at the table. Must try!

Main Courses: King Curry (butter chicken) ($24) Slow roasted chicken morsels in a buttery tomato gravy, finished with a dash of cream.

Queen Curry - Paneer Makhani ($23) Fresh cottage cheese in a buttery tomato cream gravy. The sauce is poured into the bowl table-side. Creamy and delicious.

Biryani: Shrimp Chettinad Biryani ($28). Delicious prawns curried with coconut milk and pot sealed with dum rice. The rice was still piping hot, and there was plenty of shrimp in this dish. Less spicy than other biryanis I’ve tried.

Naan: We tried 3 different types of naan: Saffron and Almond Naan ($6.75) , Cheese and Tomato Naan ($6.25), & Garlic and Chive Naan ($6.00). I particularly enjoyed the saffron and almond naan, for the textural interest that the sliced almonds provided, and because I’ve not had this anywhere else.

We also ordered several cocktails and some non-alcoholic drinks. These were not only visually tantalizing but refreshing to the palate.

The food and drinks were all presented and plated beautifully. All of the dishes had the perfect mild to moderate amount of spice, with the option for increased spice level upon request.

My favourite items include: • Homemade cider — I really enjoyed this non-alcoholic cider accentuated with the warmth of ginger beer and mulled spices, which had refreshing notes of mint. • Jodhpuri Papad Paneer Tikka — I appreciated the contrast of textures, between the firm but creamy paneer and crisp papadum topping • West Indian Tandoori Parmesan Soya Chaap — This dish surprised me in the best of ways. It was torched tableside, with the most amazing creaminess and smoky flavours. Would definitely order again. • King Curry - I enjoyed the tender pieces of chicken and the delicious sauce, which was best enjoyed with the delicious naan

Despite it’s location in the heart of the city, this venue felt nestled away from the hustle and bustle of the downtown core. The restaurant is spacious, with an upscale yet unpretentious feel. Multiple seating areas, including modern upholstered booths, help to create an elevated yet cozy and romantic experience, suitable for a date night or celebration.

There are several parking garages nearby Yonge-Dundas Square or at the Eaton Centre if you’re driving, or limited street parking can be found within walking distance from the restaurant. As the restaurant is located directly across the Eaton Centre, it is easily accessible for those taking transit.

If you’re looking for an upscale dining experience in the downtown core, I highly...

Chef Akshay Nayyar is a culinary genius.

My fiancé and I walked into his restaurant looking for a venue to book for our small wedding dinner. We wanted something that had an Indian culinary style but had the ambiance of a formal setting. We walked in during a weekday mid-afternoon and were immediately met by incredible staff who were not only incredibly helpful but so friendly. When we told them we were looking for venues, they genuinely perked up and got excited. They immediately called their boss and that is when Chef Akshay showed up almost immediately.

He introduced himself to us and immediately told us that he be happy to not only serve us, but he wanted to make it a night to remember. Custom made menu, set-up the restaurant however we wanted and he would be happy to meet whatever dietary restrictions we had! He allowed us to taste the menu right then and there and we were set.

Leading up to the event, we asked for certain things to be a certain way because we wanted to have a mixed Indian-Puerto Rican based menu. That is when his genius came through. It wasn't even a hesitation. His creative juices came through and he began to create an incredible menu. His experience not only as a chef but also as a restaurateur came through.

There was no amount of stress when it came to the venue, set-up or menu. We genuinely just had to show up and everything was taken care of. They run a tight ship but the staff was just so helpful and sensational. They were on it! Shout out to J and Aman! Helped me out not only with the welcoming of guests but they also helped me out with whatever we needed that night! They took care of me and my wife! And J volunteered herself for whatever we needed. Welcoming of guests, making sure the music was on point, taking pictures of everything and always there to ensure if someone needed a cup of chai that it was ready.

Now lets get to the food. You have to realize that Chef Akshay is a man who knows what he's doing. Not only is the menu unique to begin with in comparison to other Khazana locations, he himself ensured quality by doing the cooking himself in the kitchen while also regularly checking in to make sure everything was great! Absolute quality. And the menu we had was phenomenal. A lot of the items are available on the every day menu with a few tidbits of custom made items (The Pastelitos were fire!). But the entire menu provided oh my...the favorites were the Lamb Chops, the Black Forest Chicken, The Chicken Korma, The Queen Curry and the 24K Dal Makhani! For dessert, I didn't get to try the Hazelnut Khurchan which I heard was delicious. However he made for us a Gulab Jamun Cake as our wedding cake! And we loved it! Its a favorite of ours and the fact we got to take it home with us so we continued eating it for a week is a dream!

Honestly this place is hands down one of the best Indian restaurants we've been to. It will forever hold a special place in our hearts. Our only regret was that we didn't get to take a picture with Chef Akshay and the team. Next time were back, we are definitely going to go back and make sure not only to enjoy a meal, but try and catch a photo with the legend and the team!

Thank you for everything. An incredible culinary experience. An incredible night. A must try for everyone who is in the city! And make sure you get to shake Chef Akshay's hand! The man is a world renowned celebrity chef himself! He deserves all the accolades and success...