784 Holloway Rd, London N19 3JH
Pakora,
Fish Masala, Karahi Lamb,
Daal Tarka, Palak Paneer,
Plain Rice, Garlic Naan, Chapatti
KateUnfortunately it's been so long since we visited this restaurant that I've actually forgotten its name. I do know it was on the Holloway Road just near Archway tube.
We were living dangerously as Hanif hadn't booked a table which was lucky as I got stuck on my journey from deepest south east London. Luckily for us there was a table free and an attentive waiter. We were joined by guest LR who was keen to sample the restaurant's fish and vegetarian options. My main memory of this restaurant was seasoning. Or lack of. They did some things really well, but in my opinion (and as someone who never adds salt to her food) the seasoning was lacking. We ordered bhajis to start which weren't as crisp as you'd like them, and with no real taste. We had a weird experience with the drinks in that they offered two sizes of beer, but when we naturally ordered large, were given two small bottles to top ourselves up. A bit like a female drinking two halves rather than a pint? I hope not. When it came to the mains I do have to say well done on the seasoning of our lamb dish which was delicious with lots of flavoursome ginger. The lamb was tender but perhaps a tad fatty. We were happy to scoop up the sauce with the prerequisite chapatti (more on that later). The fish curry also was tasty - although lots of onion (perhaps more so than fish or am I just being picky?!) but generally these were good dishes. In my view that effort that went into these well-prepared main dishes was not reflected in the sides - a spinach and panir was nice but with no kick (I'm told this is how it should be but surely a girl has a right to put her foot down and demand some more ferocious home made Indian cheese) and the daal - well maybe I've just learnt that I shouldn't order daal as I like my own version so much better. It didn't help that at this moment Hanif decided to tell us how daal is made in restaurants. But again, I'm told this was a good standard. However this is my review and in my opinion daal should retain the texture of the lentils (or is that an oxymoron?). On to my sideshow - the chapatti, I considered this to be more like a flat bread or a poppadum - but perhaps I'm overthinking it. Either way, I didn't feel compelled to remove it in my handbag as on the last occasion, although I can't remember whether I finished it. Overall, this was a positive experience, and as Hanif had mentioned that he chose it because he's often noticed whilst stuck in traffic, it would certainly pass the time in a more pleasing way than sitting in a traffic jam. But I think I've realised after delaying so long in finishing this review, that I don't really have any strong feelings about this reataurant. Hanif was amused that despite bragging about its Punjabi roots, the waiter was Bengali, thus diminishing the chances of the chef really being from the advertised region. For me it was about the food which was good but nothing to shout about, so I'm not going to but will instead get on with writing the review for curry no 5 which we had last night. Review 5/10 |
HAnifSo I was not drinking and I ordered a Coke, when it came it was flat. My mate Kate suggested that flat coke is good for an upset stomach and they are probably pre-empting it. After last week’s fiasco I just wanted a half decent meal. Basically it was less than half decent mediocre at best.
I know we are not suppose to mark on service, ambience or style, so this is just a mention they call them a Jazz restaurant – I personally though they may have a band playing, did not expect them to be playing on a Wednesday night, but there was no stage. So...Sorry but NO, you cannot call yourself a jazz restaurant cause you play jazz music through a CD player – it might of been MP3 I did not ask! Ok back to food. So we ordered some Pokoras when they came I wanted to leave. They were fired in cold oil, leaving them mushy and soaking in oil on the plus side they had a bit more substance than the previous week –wait that should be normal – so scrap that plus side. So far flat coke and Pokoras fried in cold oil. I was not looking forward to what is to come. Let us start with the fish – It was basically shredded fish swimming in a pool full of onion, It did say ground onions but the pieces were bigger than ground. On the other hand the pool contained a sauce with tanginess and sweetness, so for me a well balanced sauce but let down by poor substance. Their masala sauce was indeed special The Lamb dish was probably my favourite this of this day. Kate had mentioned the lamb is fatty but I can let that go, we cannot go expecting premium lamb in a curry house, the curry was pleasantly composed with ginger, garlic and spices. It tasted so natural. The Vegetable dishes Palak Paneer (spinach+cheese) and the dhal were nothing special but also not bad at all. I do not know if that is a good or a bad thing there are some dishes in Indian restaurants that taste the same in the majority and these two seem to fit in to that band. Rice is rice, naan is naan- nothing special I would say it started pretty poorly but it managed to rescues itself with an good sauce and one great dish to an okay standard. I do not really have much to say for this one. Review 5/10 |
Guest - LR |