As we had chosen to dine at around 6.30pm we found the restaurant to be quiet and mostly occupied…read moreby fellow couples. Therefore, after our immediate greeting, we found ourselves seated in a quiet corner at a spacious booth table. The choice in decoration is subtle and relatively modern, but without the overt flamboyance often found in ultra-modern decoration in Indian restaurants. No light shows, indoor fireworks, or waterfalls are to be found here. First impressions suggested a professional dedication to service and attentiveness from the staff, an emphasis on subtle atmosphere due to dimmed lights and the type of music usually found in Indian restaurants playing at a low background volume. A seat away from the main door and bar is recommended as this restaurant provides a take-away service which is apparently very popular, and a combination of long queue and a door in near-constant action may not be too every diner's satisfaction.
Immediate service was fast and attentive: within less than a minute of being seated we were presented with an extensive drinks menu. I am no expert on wine and shall not attempt to claim to be one, but I could see from the list that many variations were available; in addition to lagers, spirits, mixers and soft drinks. A large cool glass of lassi is of particular recommendation for diners who find themselves defeated by a thoroughly spicy dish. While waiting for our drinks to arrive we were presented with the main menu, which contained the usual diverse Indian favorites of such an establishment, with the addition of some interesting special items. The menu provided gratifying explanations of each dish. Those seeking vegetable dishes are well catered for with the extensive options available on the menu, in addition to the special Thali vegetable option.
Skipping straight to the main course we were presented in good time with our choice in lamb passanda and Kashmir chicken. The lamb was clearly fresh and of good quality, its rich texture and taste perfectly matching the mild yoghurt sauce with coconut and almonds. The Kashmir chicken was mild as promised, but without the degradation in taste which often accompanies a dish of this type: the chicken was of good quality and in plentiful quantity, and the banana and cream sauce with almonds was rich and thick. The mushroom pilau rice was large enough in portion to share. For side dishes we chose sag aloo and chana masala. The sag aloo was one of the best we have ever sampled: it was neither too greasy nor too dry, and the potatoes were soft and in large quantity. The chana masala added some spice to our relatively mild choices in main meals. Our breads (banana and peshwari) were a satisfying mix of crispy and soft, while also warm and flavorsome. All of our choices were presented well and clearly designed with a sense of uniform in mind.
Having finished our main meals, a waiter was at our table within no time at all to clear our dishes and check how the meal was going so far. Eyes being considerably larger than our stomachs (which is often the case for many I'm sure in most Indian restaurants) we passed on dessert, although we could see from the menu that many varied options were available. The coconut ice-cream was particularly tempting. We decided to approach the bar and sort out the bill, not because we felt abandoned but because we wanted to leave and enjoy a much-needed after-dinner stroll. The restaurant host, after having asked us how our meals were, organized our bill and gave us a couple of chocolate mints to see us on our way. The host delegated the actual payment of the bill to a member of waiting staff, who during the card payment process asked if we would like to leave a tip, which I felt was a little uncomfortable and unnecessary. Leaving a tip is the diner's option and this should never be prompted.
Due the large number of staff on hand, combined with their overall attentiveness and dedication to good service, neither of us felt as though we were waiting an uncomfortable period of time for an order to be taken or a request to be met. We did not feel rushed and we did not have to deal with constant intrusions and interruptions. Overall it was a pleasant experience, although we dined during a quiet period and perhaps the atmosphere would have been less comfortable for a couple if we had decided on a later time and would have been sharing the restaurant with groups. We shall definitely return.
