MOTI MOHAL
How have your curry experiences in the UK faired so far? Generally you can expect a lot of food and a lot of sauce, washed down with a lot of beer. Whilst adequate for the odd occasion, it’s generally not a high expectation of fine dining. Well you can forget these misconceptions when you arrive at Moti Mohal in Covent Garden, and experience Indian cuisine at its best.
Moti Mahal was established in 1959 in Delhi, India. The first Moti Mahal Restaurant became world famous for commercialising the tandoor, allegedly inventing the Murg Makali, more commonly known as Chicken Tikka Masala, and attracting the likes of Jawaharlal Nehru, Indira Gandhi and the Kennedys. Opened in 2005 at 45 Great Queen Street, Moti Mahal in London benefits from a prime position in close proximity to the London theatre hub and offers authentic Indian cuisine in a contemporary and chic environment.
As you enter the restaurant there is a long bar on the left, with the decor a mix of traditional and modern, in an airy, buzzy interior. The most striking feature is a theatrical glass fronted, ‘open’ kitchen which allows you to watch your food being prepared. The kitchen is amazingly calm, and at the helm is Head Chef Anirudh Arora. Inspired by the culinary roots of rural India, particularly along the famed Grand Trunk Road, from West Bengal to north India and Afghanistan, Chef Arora has brought time honoured dishes and recipes to this restaurant. By accentuating new tastes and flavours from India's richly woven history, the menu at Moti Mahal is certainly a feast for the senses.
The well stocked bar offers an impressive range of cocktails and aperitifs, including mojitos and champagne cocktails, many with an Indian twist. I suggested that my partner sample a traditional Mango Lassi, a cross between a smoothie and a milk shake. It did not disappoint, and is something every fan of Indian cuisine should try.
Our meal commenced with a Fresh Salad Board, which you mix yourself with salt, oil and spices, cleansing the palette and whetting the appetite.
The starters (priced from £7) offer a mouth-watering range of dishes from various Indian regions. There are also dishes prepared in the Tandoori oven, and we were recommended the Gosht – a delicious, succulent and spicy Butterflied Leg of Lamb seasoned with bay leaf and cinnamon from the Hyderabad region. We also enjoyed a Naan bread flavoured with truffle and cheese.
The wine list (from £28 a bottle) is broad and extensive, and we enjoyed white and reds to complement each course.
The main meals are varied and interesting (price range £10 - £23), again from various Indian regions including Black Lentils, Slow Cooked Lamb, Spicy Lamb Curry, Spiced Halibut, Wild Mushrooms, Paneer, Baby Chicken and Beef Stir Fried. Since Moti Mahal allegedly invented the Murg Makali (Chicken Tikka Masala), I had to sample this signature dish – tender chunks of chicken, enrobed in a sumptuous, creamy tomato sauce. This is, without a doubt, the best Chicken Tikka Masala I have ever sampled. My partner enjoyed her Mappas (Cochin region) – succulent Tiger Prawn simmered in a tangy coconut and curry leaf sauce. Both main dishes, complemented with Steamed Rice and Daal, were cooked to perfection and highly flavoursome.
Be sure to save some space for dessert. We sampled a few traditional desserts (we were there over Diwali) from the trolley, and enjoyed each one immensely.
The service was polite, attentive and casual, and whilst very busy, the atmosphere was relaxing with families, couples, work colleagues and friends all enjoying the ambience.
Moti Mohal seemingly offers a number of different concepts and services – you can undertake Cookery Classes, order private catering for a party, pop in for lunch or the Tiffin Lunch menu, and you can even purchase a recipe book ‘Food of the Grand Trunk Road’. There are often seasonal sharing and taster menus to sample, which can also choose to match with wines or beers. Until the end of March 2014 you could also be in with a chance of winning a luxury 8-day tour of India with Abercrombie & Kent, enabling you to experience your own adventure along the Grand Trunk Road. Speak to the restaurant for further information.
This is much more than a regular curry restaurant – this is a dining experience not be to be missed, whatever the occasion.
Moti Mohal, 45 Great Queen Street, Covent Garden,
London WC2B 5AA
Telephone: 020 7240 9329 http://motimahal-uk.com