Villa Maya — Restaurant in Kerala

I write small blogs. So this blog is my honest narrative about my observations about VILLAGE MAYA WEEKEND RETREAT🍽️🥢😋 This is not any of my usual blog or a daily prompt. It’s just a fine dining experience which I enjoyed recently with my family. I stay in a two tier city where lifestyle is completely different in many ways compared to a metro. Now that our city is also being developed to a smart city, I could see sea changes in the infrastructure of the roads, lighting etc etc. There has been a drastic change in the look of my area, where I live, as well tiled pavements have been laid in the sidewalk for the pedestrians to walk comfortably. The amazing part is that not a single tree was cut to lay down the tiles. Therefore the greenery not only added a cool look, also offered shade while walking during the day. This is not any of my usual blog or a daily prompt. It’s just a fine dining experience which I enjoyed recently with my family. I stay in a two tier city where lifestyle is completely different in many ways compared to a metro. Now that our city is also being developed to a smart city, I could see sea changes in the infrastructure of the roads, lighting etc etc. There has been a drastic change in the look of my area, where I live, as well tiled pavements have been laid in the sidewalk for the pedestrians to walk comfortably. The amazing part is that not a single tree was cut to lay down the tiles. Therefore the greenery not only added a cool look, also offered shade while walking during the It so happened that I had guests to our house recently. They were all impressed by the clean , pollution free air and clean water. We all decided to got for a fine dining place. Honestly, I am aware of only normal eat outs as eating out always has been just a part of our routine. Nothing more that. To our surprise my DIL found a fine dining place for the family to have a family weekend dine out. The name of the place was undoubtedly unique. Honestly, I was surprised to know that such fine dining place do even exists in our city. With an excitement, enthusiasm and eagerness we all went to that place for dinner. Believe it or not!!!!!! I was totally awed by the ambience . An old ancestral house was converted into this fine dining place. Fromthe entrance green plants and fairy lights were the backbone for the decor. The lights were yellow but very soft and soothing to our eyes. To increase the positive energy there were bamboo plant shoots everywhere. There were aquatic decor with a nice pond here and there with lots of fishes of many colours swimming here n there. The walls were beautified by the artistic mural paintings in maroon colour. To add to decor were the Antique pieces of yesteryear placed in appropriate corners.Even the restrooms were to be watched out for their decor. The basins were “GOLDEN URULI” (means a round bowl). There were these stone grinders which were used by people of yesteryear were placed as show pieces . The dining table had only candles lit for the light. There was no electricity based bulbs. It was totally a serene atmosphere with background music to listen and enjoy. The background music was live not any recorded song. It was instrument playing different ragas with tabla to add to the beat. One cannot help falling in love with such a nice ambience on weekend for sure. The food was amazing . The food was soulful with culinary skills thrown at an extraordinary levels. I want to share over here a collage of beautiful pictures clicked by me as much I can. Hope you guys reading this narrative of a beautiful place with a wonderful ambiance. The beautifully carved stone structures added to the decor of the place. The “URULIS” and “KINDI”were set as showpieces. It was indeed a great experience for all of us as a family to dine in such a cosy and comfy place with serene surroundings. The menu was authentic with a vengeance to revive one’s taste buds undoubtedly. A DINE OUT BECOMES UNIQUE, NOT ONLY BECAUSE OF ITS CUISINE AND DECOR. BUT BECAUSE OF ITS NAME TOO, like this place...

Great ambience, extremely amicable staff and really impressive and delicious food.

I had called up around afternoon and to reserve a table for two, and mentioned that it's my wife's birthday. They asked me if I wanted to get some additional decorations or special requests, and all I had to say was just get us an outdoor table with a possible candle. By the time our reservation time came around, we reached. PS: There is car park dedicated for Villa Maya just 10-15 steps off from the place.

We entered the place, and we were taken aback already with the amazing ambience. It was a combination of amazing garden with well-placed waterways around with fish and in between of all that tables for two as well as families. We were welcomed with a complimentary refreshing iced tea shot and a savoury nibble of bread. The staff brought us our menus and walked us through the different dishes, which made our decision-making task of selecting our dinner quite easy.

We started with soups and appetizers. We got ourselves the Nalli Sharbo and the Tender Coconut Broth. The Mutton Nalli (Mutton Bone marrow) soup was a delight to have. The Tender coconut broth is a simple yet unique soup I have ever come across. It was really refreshing as well as brought our appetites ready for the rest of the night. We got Blue Cheese stuffed Mushrooms and Stuffed Crab in Shell as appetizers. Both were really just amazing. For the main course, we ordered the Gharwala Gosht and a Salmon dish (forgot the name). The salmon was a continental delight and the Gharwala Gosht was a north Indian home style lamb curry with naan on the side. We were really impressed with the main courses.

We were too stuffed to order anything on the dessert menu, so I asked for the cheque and the staff surprised us with cupcake sized chocolate brownie cake with a "Happy Birthday" inscription on the plate. It's not about the free dessert that we got, it's the attention to detail and going above and beyond based on the customers requests that really impressed me.

PS: On a side note, I have to give a big shout-out to the architect of this place. The attention to detail that has been taken across the entire place with every single small thing is just impeccable. This would be my first review for any place where I do the unexpected and suggest visiting the restrooms. Boy oh boy, they are just gorgeous.

To wrap up, we were really impressed with this place and both come here again in the future and as well highly recommend the place for anyone. Yes, the place might be on the expensive side, but trust me it is worth all the pennies.

PS: To the staff and management, please maintain the standard.

Update: This time we went for lunch. The place had definitely maintained...

Upscale… epicurean… high-society… glamorous… haute cuisine… gourmandize… take your pick from the best words you can find to describe the place. A remarkably gorgeous place that puts forth a countrified delicacy of green as well as deliver the grandiose service. A treasure trove amidst the Fort area.

The two-century old palace has been refurbished into an aristocratic restaurant. It is just verdant with trees of short stature, shrubs and medicinal herbs. The potted plants, topiary and the occasional bonsai just adds to the lushness of the open dining patio. Huts along the north wall are elegantly reserved into private booth. It is bounded by tall green stalks to be cut off from the next-door loud streets

The icing on the cake is the streams of water winding through the entire court space. It meanders alongside the huts, the edges of the open tables, beside the brinks of the building, and unbelievable within the washrooms too. Water spouts on the north wall squirt water into the streams adding to the sensation. Tiny Koi fish as well as large fishes can be seen simmering through the streams.

A light zen music in the background teaming up with the splashing hum of the water spouts and tranquility of the green court is the ultimate gastronomic getaway to the tranquil side. Who would have known that the busy city hides such a prized possession in its watch?

The indoor dining within the Old palace building is also so intricately adorned with the age-old trinkets, but the open court is the place to be. They have a green turfed-up party ground too that can host about 200 people.

Their menu is handed in what looks like a slim wooden chest. The items in the menu inspires genuine curiosity. The preparation takes a little long as it is concocted with such detail. Even a simple lime tea comes with a side of honey cup, a teeny cookie, a crumb of saffron-topped caramel cheese cake, a little ball of sesame-jaggery mishmash. You get a teapot full of black tea that can top up 3 cups. Their main course are also prepared with such sophistication that you would be awestruck at the demonstration. A Syrian platter, lasagna, carpaccio or a simple meal comes along with heart-warming sides of sauces, herbs, veggies, breads, and add-ons. It’s the epitome of service and presentation. Some of the dishes may not excel in taste, but it is more about enjoying the food in the pastoral ambience.

The prices are obviously on the higher side because you are not just paying for the food, but for the entire atmosphere. So one might think of it as totally worth one’s while. Hence, I would suggest everybody who is anybody to just descend into the charming setting for an experience of fine dining for at least once if you are...