Text 3143, 60 rader
Skriven 2013-08-02 14:06:00 av MICHAEL LOO (1:123/140)
Ärende: MD 962
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The Royal Taj is in the same shopping complex as contains
such standbys as Jason's and Cheeburger Cheeburger. I can't
imagine passing it up for one of those, but I'm not the public.
It's really very good, in a completely standard way as far as
I could tell, though it would take more visits to uncover why
people venerate it as they do.

Despite the place being jampacked (there was an office/birthday
party that took up most of the main dining area) we were seated
immediately in a sun-heated front area with a few tables, all
the others of which were already occupied. To start they gave
us some standard cumin pappadums with the usual three relishes,
which looked more homemade than usual - I tried the onion one,
of which I prefer the commercial version: this one was not as
sweet (a good thing) but rather harsh without being hot enough.
The coriander chutney and tamarind sauce I seldom bother with.

We got an appetizer plate augmented by two lamb samosas. All
were fried and all seemed pretty good, though I didn't taste
the paneer patties. Onion bhaji were specially good.

Mains:

The Shipps' choice was chicken methi - sort of like murg saag
but flavored with fenugreek leaves. It came very mild but
pleasantly spiced, and I had several spoons of the sauce (none
of the chicken, though, which was white meat).

Nancy had a yen for tandoor so got the mixed grill. Two seekh
kebabs, a shrimp, a chicken leg quarter, and about a breast's
worth of white meat chunks in two different treatments, a red
one and a yellow one. I tasted the lamb, which seemed quite
normal, rather mild, and had a drumstick, which was juicy
enough and tasty with rice. It was said that the white meat
was dry but nicely spicy; I passed, as did Nancy, and most of
it went back to the house.

Of course my choice was baingan bharta extra spicy. This was
a vegan, turmeric-heavy version (see previous post), lots of
ginger slivers and crushed garlic. The heat came in the form
finely chopped jalapeno, which lent a not unpleasant green
peppery taste but not as much heat as I might have wanted.
Nancy thought the eggplant flavor muted; I found it fine.

Rice was pretty fragrant without much spice - a few cumin
seeds and peas was about it.

Mango lassi and masala chai were reported good. A Taj Mahal
beer was as expected.

After the meal, we were served gulab jamun on the house,
probably leftover from the big party earlier.

Back at the house we had fresh fruit and a beer or two,
then I left a spirited conversation downstairs, as it was
time for a shower and a good night's sleep, aided by a few
milligrams of Dilaudid.
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