Authentic Flavors Make Tender Rack Of Lamb Stand Out At Raja Indian Cuisine & Bar
Raja Indian Cuisine & Bar, located in the original Wellington Mall, brings a slice of India to central Palm Beach County. The ambiance is as authentic as the food, and it captures the culture in every way — from the music and décor to the fragrances and smiles that cheerfully greet patrons.
Raja offers many traditional dishes, but a standout signature dish is the tender and flavorful rack of lamb.
“It is a fusion between Indian, French and American cuisine,” Executive Chef Vijeesh Parayil said. “Rack of lamb is really a standard for any great restaurant. Ours is made with sour cream, cream cheese, mace, nutmeg, green cardamom, fennel powder and Indian garam masala.”
While rack of lamb may sound familiar, the flavors, plating and sides are truly unique. The colorful plate arrives with sauteed vegetables, like carrots and broccoli, flavor-filled rice and kitchen made naan bread. It is truly a complete, upscale dish for only $26.
“The lamb chops are a team effort. We have a couple of chefs working together on it — one cooks it in the clay oven, another chef pre-plates, and I do the spices. Once we cook it up, I slice the rack and finish the presentation,” Parayil said. “It’s all such a good flavor once you put in all the spice.”
One reason why the food is layered in beautiful flavors is because the team at Raja take authenticity very seriously, down to the smallest details.
“We make all the spices here. We get the whole ingredients, and we grind the spices here in the kitchen. Spices lose their flavor over time, especially after being ground. By keeping everything fresh, we get more flavor,” Parayil said.
There are a number of popular curry dishes on the menu, along with several vegan options. Tandoor options include tandoori chicken, jumbo shrimp and more. A variety of Naan breads are available to complement your meal.
Parayil has been the head chef at Raja since the restaurant opened two years ago. Originally from the southern Indian state of Kerala, he finds particular joy in developing seafood dishes inspired by his roots while utilizing local ingredients.
“We have a lot of seafood [in Kerala]. In-house, we serve a chef’s special, which is a yellowtail snapper. Its flavors are from where I am from,” Parayil explained. “We cook it in the clay oven, and we add some shrimp curry on top of the fish.”
The yellowtail snapper is also well priced at $25 a plate. Keeping prices reasonable while finding ways to offer a unique variety has always been important at Raja. Combine this with putting customers as a priority, and it explains how the restaurant has managed to thrive despite difficult circumstances.
“We didn’t close when the pandemic hit. We just kept open for to-go orders,” Parayil said. “Now, we are open for in-person dining, but some people want to come in and some people don’t. Many call, and they want to pick up their order — or they go through another service like Uber Eats or Delivery Dudes.”
Parayil said that Raja works with all food delivery options — anything to keep their customers comfortable and content.
“We used to be very busy on Saturdays and Sundays, because of our buffet, so we are happy to finally be able to bring it back,” he said.
On April 10, the lunch buffet returned to the weekends from noon to 3 p.m. for $16 per person. The buffet includes two different salads, an appetizer, rice, three different vegetable options, two proteins and two desserts, plus fountain drinks and bread already included, to make for a serious meal.
Look to Raja to find even a signature dessert you won’t find anywhere else.
“My signature dessert is called gulab jamun pie, and no one ever made it here in America until I did. It’s a fusion, and my personal innovation,” Parayil said. “There is a mango-caramel sauce and jackfruit ice cream on top.”
Gulab jamun are small, round, milk-based donuts that have been soaked in a sweet syrup.
To find Raja, look for the sign with the Golden “R.” Once inside, you’ll find an array of authentic treasures — dishes spanning many regions, draped in layers of bold flavors, and a dining atmosphere that’s warm and welcoming. Raja’s owners — the husband-and-wife team of Sunil Kayalchirayil and Sheeba Krishnankutty — call it “modern Indian.”
Raja Indian Cuisine is open from 11:30 a.m. to 9 p.m., Tuesday through Sunday. The restaurant is closed on Mondays. The buffet is now available on Saturday and Sunday, from noon to 3 p.m. Visit Raja Indian Cuisine & Bar on Facebook to see current specials.
Raja Indian Cuisine & Bar is located in the original Wellington Mall at 12794 W. Forest Hill Blvd., Suite 20. The restaurant has direct access through both the mall interior and from the back parking lot. For more information, or to see the menu, visit www.rajawellington.com or call (561) 318-5383.
