First Look: Ms. Maria and Mr. Singh by Gaggan Anand Opens With an Eclectic Mexican-Indian Menu

Gaggan Anand, the man behind the eponymous Gaggan, has opened a new casual dining concept in Singapore called Ms. Maria and Mr. Singh in collaboration with The Proper Concepts Collective. This is the Singapore outpost of the said Mexican-Indian concept, with a similar restaurant in Bangkok. Craig Road is no stranger to trendy Indian concept restaurants, with Firangi Superstar just a few steps away. 

The food and drinks at Ms. Maria and Mr. Singh are examples of fantasy cuisine, with the story and inspiration of the dishes coming from a fictional cross-cultural couple of Mexican and Indian origin. 

The venue is a relatively small and narrow shophouse space that can sit up to 40 people, with a mix of table and bar seats. The space can feel a bit cramped, especially for the table seating. You may run out of space if you are ordering a number of dishes. The bar seats actually have more space but you’d have to sit side-by-side your dining companions.

Expect a rendition of some of the greatest hits served at Gaggan Anand Restaurant such as Papdi Chaat (S$18), a yogurt explosion of flavours featuring the popular Indian street food made with crisp fried puri, sweet and sour chutneys, yogurt and sev.

Another starter I thoroughly enjoyed was the highly addictive Spicy Crunchy Okra (S$12) which also goes well as a bar bite.

The Cold Curry Ceviche (S$20) is inspired from Gaggan’s classic dish called “Cold Curry Scallops” where he challenges the perception of curry which is served hot and cooked. This dish is instead served cold and raw. The Mexican flair is evident through the corn salsa and avocado chutney and it’s best mixed together before eating.

I was quite excited and looking forward to the Truffle Quesadilla (S$28 for 6pcs) but somehow, the flour torilla, mozzarella cheese, black truffle paste and truffle honey combination did not work out the way I expected. It was a tad sweet for my liking.

Presentation-wise, the Patrani Fish Tamal (S$30) looks quite unassuming with its slightly charred exterior but I found this one of the highlights among the dishes I tried at Ms. Maria and Mr. Singh. The barramundi within was oh-so-tender and carried the natural fragrance from having been steamed by banana leaf and patrani masala.

Inspired by the classic Baja Fish Tacos, the Maria Singh Fish Tacos (S$18) can be thought of as a “skinny taco” with shiso leaf replacing the usual dough. Each order comes in 2s, with a different marinade for each piece – a green and red one representing Ms. Maria and Mr. Singh.

Mains at Ms. Maria and Mr. Singh are far heartier affairs and more straightforward – as compared to the cross-cultural starters. The mains are more Indian-inclined, such as with the Chicken Tikka Masala (S$18) which was popularized by Indian cooks living in Britain. 

Gaggan’s Crab Curry (S$32) is a signature dish of Chef Gaggan since 2016/17 that has been a staple in several pop-ups. The crab meat is stir fried with black pepper and curry leaves before being added in to the curry. This is the type of dish that will go well with plenty of rice especially with the addictive curry.

For vegetarians, there’s the Morel Mushrooms Biryani (S$28). I thought the mushrooms to rice ratio was slightly on the lower side. 

Among the rice dishes, the star is the Surf and Turf Biryani (S$28). This is a staple dish from the original Bangkok outlet of Ms. Maria and Mr. Singh, with a special variation created for Singapore. The surf portion consists of prawns and scallops while beef tongue encapsulates the turf portion. Overall, this was a well balanced and flavorful main and if you can only choose 1 main to order here, I would recommend having a go at this. 

Among the desserts, the Mango Yuzu Snowball (S$24) is touted as the specialty as it is Gaggan’s specialty. However, I found it too sweet for my liking. 

Instead, the mysterious looking Avocado Falooda (S$16) was more compelling with its subtle but variety in flavors. Think: avocado, rose jelly, basil seeds, vanilla ice cream but without being cloying or overly sweet.

Fans of Gaggan’s flagship concept as well as his Singapore pop-up in Bukit Pasoh will need to adjust their mindsets when coming here. First of all, this is a casual dining concept with trappings of a hangout place. That being said, those who might have been put off by the much higher prices from his fine dining concept will find Ms. Maria and Mr. Singh a lot more accessible. Most of the dishes are below S$30. There are a number of dishes to enjoy here, particularly those starters that successfully meld the nuances of Mexican and Indian cuisine as well as the hearty mains, which lean more towards Indian culinary techniques. 

Ms. Maria and Mr. Singh
43 Craig Road
Singapore 089681

+65 9654 4351

Opening Hours: 

Wed-Fri: 17:00-23:00
Sat-Sun: 11:30-15:00,17:00-23:00