Discover a Masterchef’s Elevated Indian Dining Menu at GUPSHUP

It is a wonderful thing when one new experience leads you to another place you might not expect to go. Looking for the restaurant I was supposed to dine at, GUPSHUP, I found it in The Serangoon House, a Tribute Portfolio Hotel by Marriott International located in Singapore’s Little India quarter.

I’d noticed the Marriott signage before when walking past the building. However, this was the first time I uncovered this boutique hotel that showcases Indian colonial design and interior architecture. Never before had I been here, and this hotel was to be my gateway to GUPSHUP, an equally quaint restaurant led by Masterchef India judge Chef Jolly. Now, Chef Jolly has over three decades of experience across luxury hotels and Michelin-starred kitchens worldwide, and helms the menu of London gastropub The Great Indian, which opened earlier this year to very positive reviews.

In Singapore, The Serangoon House and GUPSHUP are part of the Garcha group that runs other luxury boutique hotels The Vagabond Club and The Maxwell Reserve. In Hindi and Urdu slang, the word ‘gupshup’ means ‘gossip’ or ‘conversation’ – and tucked away at the basement of The Serangoon House is the opulent yet intimate space that makes this restaurant.

Evoking old world charm with its ornate banquettes and colonial murals, GUPSHUP is certainly a good place for a chat over good food in the form of gourmet Indian tapas. I had come to sample Jolly’s ‘The Great Indian Feast‘, a sumptuous a la carte buffet spread of 13 dishes both playful yet polished, that feature flavours from North to South India.

Appetisers begin with Bhindi Amchur, a classic Indian snack of crispy fried okra dusted with chickpea flour, cumin and mango powder. Simple this may seem, but this is a great introduction to savour the humble lady’s finger in a form that is celebrated in Indian cuisine, yet uncommon elsewhere.

Perhaps less sinful but equally crispy is the Lotus Papdi Chaat (‘chaat’ being an all-encompassing term that generally refers to Indian street snacks), where refreshing pomegranate mint sauce and yogurt accompany the delicate lotus crisp layered with sweet potato, onion and tomato.

I was really looking forward to the next item I’d seen in countless Bollywood movies – the extremely popular street snack of Pani Poori, crispy, thin semolina balls that are open at the top, and filled with crushed potatoes and chickpeas. After pouring in cold tangy tamarind water and spicy mint shots, pop the entire balls in your mouth and relish the mix of warm and cold, sweet, savoury and tangy all in one closed mouthful. If not careful, these can get really messy if you eat them standing in the streets of Delhi.

We moved on to the mains which arrived in small plates, just the right size to sample the whole range of them. While lamb is not a meat I always appreciate, I loved the Gosht Seekh Kebab, lamb skewers with garlic and coriander, which were extremely tender and well-spiced with no gaminess. Another dish we tried was the Chicken Keema Kal Dosa – soft, fluffy rice crepes filled with spiced minced chicken or choose the Potato Kal Dosa with minced curry potatoes for a vegetarian/vegan option.

We also tried the classic South Indian Chicken Chettinad Curry. It is completely different from the nonya-style, coconut milk based gravy that is my usual understanding of curry, but is no less flavourful. The chicken is simmered with curry leaves and house-made spices, paired perfectly with a parotta. There is also a fried chicken dish Chicken 65-albeit done Indian style as a crispy snack, with curry leaves and chilli.

The selection of mains available, like the appetisers, ensures that vegetarians and vegans will not be left out of Gupshup’s feast.  Indian cuisine features a wide gamut of vegetarian dishes and besides chickpeas, the very versatile cottage cheese is a fixture, as seen in the Chilli Paneer, a chilli-garlic-soy paneer with Chinese stir-fry influences and notes of black pepper and spice.

There are many delicious carbs to go with all these flavourful and gravy-rich dishes, in the form of Basmati Rice and a bread basket of wheat roti, naan and whole wheat paratha. Meanwhile, Amritsari Chole and Tandoori Kulcha is another dish that is great for dipping bread in – stewed chickpeas served with crisp bread, stuffed with spiced potatoes, coriander, lime and dried pomegranate seeds for a blend of savoury, sour and sweet.

There is no ending to an Indian meal without sweets, so conclude your meal with the signature Kulfi Falooda, house-made frozen reduced milk with almond, pistachio, cardamom and rose, layered with vermicelli, holy basil seeds and a drizzle of raspberry sauce. While this was a tad too sugary and milky for me to appreciate, it is a classic rendition of Indian ice cream that will definitely please those with a sweet tooth for desserts. Another option is Elaneer Payasam, chilled rice and coconut pudding with cardamom, cashew nuts and raisins.

Until 15 October 2025, enjoy GUPSHUP’s The Great Indian Feast at a 1-for-1 offer price at $59++ for two, valid for lunch on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays (not valid on public holidays) for unlimited a la carte dining up to 90 minutes. Prior reservation is required. If buffets are not your thing, another deal ongoing at 50% off is GUPSHUP’s Dabbawala Tiffin Menu, a set lunch for two from Tuesdays to Thursdays (vegetarian and non-vegetarian menus available at $21 and $23 per pax respectively, not valid on public holidays).

GUPSHUP
301 Serangoon Rd
Basement 1
The Serangoon House
Singapore 218224

Opening hours: Daily 12pm to 3pm and 5pm to 10pm