Staff at this international culinary flagship are immensely proud of the fact that Bill Clinton apparently chose to stay at the Maurya Sheraton “because of our restaurant,” and report that when Putin was in town, he wanted to dine here three times a day. Hardly surprising then, that Restaurant Magazine rated Bukhara as one of the 50 best restaurants (and best Asian restaurant) in the world in 2004.
It’s a cozy venue, with stone walls and cushion-covered stools at mock log-top tables. In a busy display kitchen where meat and vegetables hang from swordlike kebab spears, chefs slave to produce delicacies from a menu that hasn’t changed in over 25 years. The best way to experience Bukhara’s internationally celebrated cuisine is to order an assorted kebab platter (there’s even one named in Clinton’s honor). Follow that up with any of Bukhara’s classic lamb (raan) dishes, best savored with thin butter naans. Finish off with a traditional rice-based phirni pudding or one of their amazing kulfis (ice cream).