Prev Review

Next Review

Rajdhani - February 2009

Summary

 

I had the usual Friday feeling this week and so was looking forward to a couple of beers and a good curry to start the weekend properly.  A simple requirement for a simple bloke.  Our chosen starting venue was The Barn on Secklow Gate, which was lively and welcoming but the pubs in the Theatre District are equally as near if your prefer.  London Pride and Becks were on draught and seemed to be the beers of choice as well as the more unusual blueberry J2O?. Once everyone had arrived and had their aperitif(s), it was on to the Rajdhani, an Indian restaurant I had not been too before. Its location is slightly unusual as it is next to Waitrose in the food court, but this does mean that there is ample parking right outside and taxis should be a plenty.

 

On first impressions the Rajdhani was a warm and welcoming, large open plan restaurant, with the waiting area on a raised dais next to the main eating area. Its subtle lighting complemented the décor and I was impressed with the layout as we were shown straight through to our table. There was plenty of space around the dining tables meaning there was no need for the usual shuffle and squeeze, through to the washrooms if needed (which incidentally were very clean and tidy).

 

The dining area was almost full which gave a lively feel and this high level of patronage turned out to be an accurate indication of the overall standard of the food and service. The general banter and light hearted shenanigans that go with a typical MKCC night out were entered into by the staff and made for an enjoyable table atmosphere. We were quickly sorted for the usual assortment of orange juices, cokes, beers, popadoms and pickles. (Though it is better not to try and mix all of these in the same bowl). Only bottled beers were on offer, which wasn’t a problem as Cobra seems to be the de facto standard for the MKCC, but is worth noting.

 

Once I had menu in hand I was confronted with the age old dilemma - order something new and different or go for an old favourite for comparison. A quick scan showed that the menu was very comprehensive with some unusual and interesting specials as well as all of ‘the classics’ and a larger than normal starter offering. The whole selection was presented in one open leave style, which I much prefer, so there was no flicking through multiple pages to make your choice, and maximum cogitation could be applied. This did however mean the writing was a little on the small side and each dish had a shorter than usual description. An indication of heat was on there, if a little questionable. This time I elected to go with a Machli starter (prawns with salmon) and Lamb Tikka Zalori for main both which I had not tried before but seemed interesting.

 

Starters arrived promptly and the general consensus was that all starters were well presented and very tasty with the only criticism being that the plates that they were served on were cold, making the food cool when eaten. My Machli, which was served as cooked prawns rolled in thin Salmon slices with a rich sweet, slightly coconut sauce was very good but it did suffer from cold plate syndrome.

 

Main courses followed. The Lamb Tikka Zalori I had ordered was a slightly larger than normal dish and probably one for the bigger appetite. Sides, rice and breads were well presented and good sized portions with vegetables fresh and tasty. The eating began in earnest and generals grunts and snorts of approval could he heard. The overall thought was that the ‘heat’ of the dishes was less than you would normally expect for a given type of curry – Jalfrezi, Madras etc but they were full of flavour. The staff remained attentive throughout when extra drinks and the like were needed and service was some of the best I have experienced.

 

I would certainly recommend this restaurant to anyone for all occasions, from couples to large parties to simple blokes with simple requirements.

 

Common Curry - A little above average cost, but it is located in the centre of MK.

 

Pictures from the Rajdhani.

 

Web site - http://www.rajdhanimk.com/

 

Other Comments

Positive:

• A welcome at the door and seated on time
• Fiery Lime Pickle, tasty and hot. A good selection of dips
• A full restaurant with authentic music
• Onion Bhaji - 4 medium sized balls, filling and not too greasy
• Chicken Chat very tasty, although served a little cool in temperature
• Reshmee Kabab, large burger, freshly made and hot
• Very tasty Bhindi  Bhaji
• Service was excellent. The food was timed to perfection and waiter were efficient but not over attentive.
• Chicken Korai was tender with large pieces of pepper and onion
• The Nan bread was light, not doughy - above average
• Lamb Madras was hot and good
• Lamb Tikka, very large portion, slightly tough but tasty
• Various rice and veggies - no complaints, all cooked well

 

Negative:

• Lamb Dhansak meat was a bit overcooked and the flavour a little strange. It could have been hotter and contained chick peas (we think?)
• Keema rice was poor and gave a funny taste
• No hot plates to keep the food warm during the meal
• Spicy vegatable Bahar, a good portion but a lot of different vegatables included