I have always found it fascinating to see an Indian cook at work, with a palette of spices, gratuitously sprinkling these powders in exact pinches into the dish in front of him/her. One wonders how anyone can be so confident to throw in various amounts of spice into a dish to whip up something absolutely delectable.

The variation in Indian food from region to region can be quite staggering. North Indian cuisine however has always been the favourite among Caucasians and in Singapore, there's never a shortage of food from that region.

Take a stroll down Boat Quay and you'll be surprised with the number of restaurants that churn out similar dishes. I walked down further to the other end of the Singapore River and came across a little piece of India with a twist of Western contemporary features.

Ras, the Essence of India stays true to its name, serving only authentic Indian (mostly Northern Indian) cuisine to its lunch and dinner crowds. A popular corporate dining restaurant, Ras is not your typical Indian eatery with gaudy silk drapes, traditional furnishings and strong cultural features. Instead, it is modern and classy.

Sitting inside its shophouse restaurant in Clarke Quay, I tapped my fingers to the rhythmic sounds of the sitar as it softly played in the background just to create an ambience. Seated with the restaurant's General Manager, Venkat N. Reddy, I nibbled on some papadams as he fingered through the menu deciding the fate of my curious appetite.

• Served
  Appetizers:
  Mixed Grill Platter (Chicken & Lamb kebabs, grilled prawns and fish)
  
  Mains:
  Lamb Vindaloo
  Chicken Nawabi Korma
  Kerala Fish Masala
  Palak Paneer
  Subz Jhalfrezi
  Dal Makhni
  Hyderabadi Lamb Biryani
  Saffron and Jeera Pulao
  
  Dessert:
  Gulab Jamun, Carrot Halwa & Rasmalai
  
  Drinks:
  Lassi - Mango, Sweet, Salted and Masala Shikanji

Light and tasty. Two words to describe precisely how the starters were. Served on a hot grill platter, the kebabs, prawns and fish were hot and sizzling. I gently sliced a piece and popped it into my mouth. The mixed grill platter is sufficient for a couple looking to have lights afternoon drinks and a snack by the river.

Venkat insisted I try the variety of Lassi (yogurt based beverage) flavours available at the restaurant. So out came the sweet, salted and mango lassi. Masala Shikanji is an interesting concoction that is presumably a health drink to detoxify the body. I definitely needed that one especially after the feast I was about to enjoy.

Soft saffron rice with a variety of curries - all of different tastes and aroma. Ask the chef to either tone down or up the spice to suit your taste buds. Fish is so soft, simply melting in your mouth at the first bite. I must add that Ras maintains a reputation for using quality meat and fresh fish, vegetables and other ingredients.

Service
There are no cultural frills and that's clearly noticeable from the staff's attire at the restaurant and the design of its interior and exterior. Sticking to a basic concept of simplicity and focussing primarily on its food and service.

Staff are always smiling and polite, immediately attending to you when called upon. Venkat also takes pride in the operations of Ras, requesting guests to fill in a simple feedback form that allows him to achieve a unique and incomparable Indian dining experience.

Positioning itself as a restaurant for corporate meetings and events, prices at Ras can be quite steep. Expect to pay between S$60 to S$150 per person. If you're one who appreciates quality food in a fine-dining ambience, then expect to pay more at this restaurant especially their dinner (please make reservations for dinner).