Currying favour at the Bengal Brasserie
Posted: 19 October '09 by Kelly
Bengal Brasserie
On Saturday night Niall and I headed out to the Bengal Brasserie on the Ormeau Road for a long-awaited curry.
We’ve been going to the Bengal Brasserie for ages – from when it was a shabby-but-much-loved place down near the Ormeau bridge, to the latest incarnation as a contemporary, plush new eaterie at the Newtownbreda end of the road. Despite the radical change in appearance, the quality of the food and the service has never faltered.
The perfumed cloud of Asian spices had our mouths watering as we made our way to the entrance and, on entering the almost permanently busy restaurant, we were welcomed by a member of staff who took us to our table – while we eyed the largest bottle of Sangre de Toro we’d ever seen the whole way! It should probably be said at this point that the service at the restaurant is just great – friendly, very helpful with food combinations and amounts (you’ll be tempted to order all of the side dishes on the menu!), and extremely courteous – opening the door for you as you leave and wishing you a good night is a nice touch, as is the slight nod of recognition for a returning customer.
As good as the staff are, it’s the food that’s the star – there’s something for everyone on the menu: sweet and creamy Kormas; sizzling Tandoori skillets; and fiery vindaloos. Ordering some poppadoms with sauces and relishes is a must, giving you plenty of time to look over the menu – my favourite relish is a tangy, onion-y concoction that is very more-ish, but all four offer something very different and disappear quickly.
I was surprised with the wine list the first time I saw it, in all honesty. My experience of these things in curry houses is a bad one, without exception. But the Bengal Brasseries list is pretty good – some New World, some Old World – plenty to choose from. We opted for a punchy Cote du Rhone from the always-dependable Chapoutier stable – a fantastic red that was able to stand up to the myriad flavours in the dishes without overpowering them.
For our starter I ordered the King Prawn Sukka (meaty king prawns on a chapati with a rich tomato and chilli sauce) and Niall ordered the Chicken Pakora (strips of chicken in a light, spiced batter). Both were fantastic – just the right amount to whet your appetite for the meal yet to come – and left us disagreeing over who had chosen the best.
Harmony, or at least silence, was restored when the main courses appeared. Niall’s Lamb Palok is a big favourite of ours – a mild enough curry based on LOTS of spinach and slices of garlic, with tender portions of lamb. My Murg (chicken) Bhuna is a tomato-based dish – some heat, a little sweetness, and lots of those aromatic tumeric and coriander spices – and just delicious. The two dishes were very different, and made a nice contrast – Niall’s earthy spinach curry against my tangy tomato dish. Both dishes came with portions of rice, which I like – it’s a slight bug-bear of mine that, in some restaurants, rice has to be ordered in addition to the curry – a kind of “hidden” charge. We also ordered a Keema Naan (flat-bread with marinated, minced lamb between the layers) and Palok Bhajee (more spinach, but totally irresistable).
Unsurprisingly, we didn’t manage a dessert, despite repeated, wistful glances at the menu.
Saying our goodbyes to the staff, we walked off into the night, happy and contented.
| Starters: | |
|---|---|
| King Prawn Sukka | £3.95 |
| Murg Pakora | £3.95 |
| Main Courses: | |
| Murg Bhuna | £7.45 |
| Lamb Palok | £7.45 |
| Sundries: | |
| Keema Naan | £1.95 |
| Palok Bhajee | £2.95 |
| Bottle of Cote du Rhone | £22.50 |
| Total: | £50.20 |
A fantastic restaurant that others have called “the best curry house in Belfast” – and we’d be hard-pressed to disagree.
A restaurant to introduce your friends to – for which they’ll be eternally grateful.
Bengal Brasserie
455, Ormeau Road,
Belfast
County Antrim
BT7 3GQ
t: 028 90647516
w: www.bengalbrasseriebelfast.co.uk
You can also see the Bengal Brasserie on Google Maps.
Tags: 3 star rating, belfast restaurant, belfast restaurants, indian food, restaurant, restaurant review, where to eat in belfast
Categories: Northern Ireland > Restaurant Reviews > United Kingdom
Kelly that sounds so yummy, I crave an Indian right now! I’ve been to Bengal Brasserie before, although only for a take-away but I must say their service is impeccable. Must go there for a proper sit-down meal!
Yes, you should head down! Make sure you try the spinach its yummy!! Enjoy