Calcutta Brasserie - Jan 2010

Summary

The start of another year searching for the best curry restaurants in MK. Lots of familiar faces at the meeting and a familiar venue to start us off, although the Calcutta Brasserie has now replaced the Mogul Palace, which makes it a new choice. The  name is not the only change as it has a very different menu from the ‘norm’ and also provides a better service to its customers than the previous occupant.

This Victorian complex was built as a school in 1863, and then became an orphanage known as ‘Fegan’s Home’. It was then converted in the mid 1980s to residential use. The restaurant occupies the large school chapel which makes for a less intimate dining experience perhaps, but nevertheless, one with a different outlook and ambience.

 

The menu - dishes are described well and their spice strength indicated next to each dish. In low light, on coloured paper, it can be a bit difficult to read for the ‘old uns’ among us, especially taking into account that you have to read the whole thing, at least once because of the unfamiliar dish names, otherwise you don’t know what to order. There are none of the ‘old favourites’ on the menu that you might expect to see at other curry restaurants.

 

Once we had decided, remembered what we had to order and remembered what we had ordered when it arrived, the general view was that it was of a very high standard of cooking and was presented very well, all be it on the expensive side. The opinion was that the menu choice was Indian, as opposed to the more popular Bangladeshi menus in most curry restaurants. As we had visited the venue in its previous guise we were both delighted, and a little surprised, to find this restaurant had been re-invented so well. A very good place to bring your partner, even if they are not a great curry lover.

 

Don’t be put off by the somewhat English descriptions of the dishes, such as Devonshire crab cakes, as the twelve strong group of us had a good cross section of items and they were pretty much all, spiced well, flavoursome and cooked in Indian style.

 

Summary - Definitely a place to go back to, especially with a partner or another couple. Not somewhere for those who want the basic dishes but rather for someone who’s prepared to try something different and will pay a bit more for the privilege. This restaurant will be receiving a certificate of excellence from the club.

Common Curry - There is nothing common about this menu! Not possible to find the 'old favourites' so the item that came closest was chosen. Definitely more expensive than your average curry house.

 

Web site - http://www.calcuttabrasserie.co.uk

 

Other Comments

Positive:

• Seafood Tomato Rasam starter, outstanding mussells and a bite to the sauce
• Hara Channa Tikka starter, spicy and tasty
• Tandoori Chicken, starter option, was awesome
• Manglorean Scallops, the best starter
• Paneer Tikka starter fantastic
• Rajasthani Laal Maas lamb, nice and hot and flavoursome
• Tandoori Kebab Platter, good combination of various meats, a hot chilli kebab
• Cabbage stir fry had great taste
• Most of the Nan breads got a positive comment
• Much improved on the previous restaurant in this building
• More of an Indian than a Bangladeshi
• Service was a good pace and friendly

 

Negative:

• No option of spiced poppodums and dips were a bit sparse
• Small rice portions
• Limited meat choice for starters
• Goan Crab Cakes starter was not home made, overcooked with an unappetising sauce from a bottle
• Baingan Bhartha aubergine not as smoked as expected
• Kori Gassi chicken not very tender and no texture to the sauce
• Cheese Nan, a bit 'English', also like a pizza
• None of the 'normal' vegatable sides on the menu
• No table heaters
• More expensive than any other curry in Stony but very different

 

 

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