Restaurant India News: Ummrao Saaj Opens at Courtyard by Marriott Mumbai Airport

Ummrao Saaj has opened at Courtyard by Marriott Mumbai International Airport as a modern take on Awadhi cuisine. Inspired by the royal kitchens of Lucknow, the restaurant blends traditional flavours with a contemporary approach. The restaurant follows a simple idea: respect tradition while adding a modern touch. Classic Awadhi recipes are reworked using new techniques, while keeping their original taste and essence intact.

The interiors reflect the same philosophy as the food. The space moves from intimate and calm to open and colourful, symbolising tradition evolving into modern expression. Overall, Ummrao Saaj offers a dining experience that stays rooted in heritage while embracing a contemporary style.

The menu highlights slow-cooked dishes, fragrant rice preparations, soft textures, and the gentle use of spices, staying true to the finesse of Awadhi cuisine. Ummrao Saaj is built around three key ideas. Nava represents modern interpretation of traditional recipes. Raag focuses on cocktails inspired by Indian classical music, using Indian spirits and local ingredients. Sangam reflects the idea of bringing people together through shared meals and conversation.

Signature dishes include galawat kebabs, slow-cooked meats, aromatic rice dishes, and delicately spiced vegetarian options. Ingredients such as saffron, ghee, yoghurt, and hand-ground spices are used carefully to let flavours develop naturally. The bar offers cocktails inspired by different raags, with each drink reflecting a mood or time of day. These cocktails are made with Indian spirits and native botanicals and are designed to be balanced and layered.

The dining experience is designed to engage all the senses. Soft Indian music plays in the background, and a subtle earthy fragrance adds warmth to the space. The staff share stories behind the dishes, helping guests understand the history and techniques of Awadhi cooking.

Speaking about the vision, Abhishek Sachdev, General Manager, Courtyard by Marriott Mumbai International Airport, shares, “Ummrao Saaj is a special moment for us as it marks Marriott International’s first Modern Indian restaurant in South Asia. The idea was to create a space that feels rooted yet relevant, built on restraint, elegance, and storytelling. The cuisine, cocktails, and overall experience come together naturally to create moments that feel timeless and invite guests to not just dine but truly connect. What sets Ummrao Saaj apart is its belief in quiet sophistication. There is no performance, only purpose.”

With this modern expression of a treasured cuisine, musical note inspired cocktails and the spirit of community dining, Ummrao Saaj emerges as a modern-day ode to one of India’s most poetic culinary traditions crafted for the present, rooted in the past, and designed to endure.