Those Aussies, New Zealanders, South Africans, West Indians and others are all after delicious, authentic Indian food — it doesn’t have anything to do with the mega-dollars they receive for hitting and catching a small ball. Pity they didn’t come to Harare to sample the delights of the Dehli Palace, and, oh yes, the conditions for cricket are near-perfect as well.
The Dehli Palace is situated in the small Greystone Park shopping complex, a far cry from our house, but well-worth the visit. The somewhat isolated location makes Dehli Palace seem all the more special; an oasis rising out of nowhere and definitely not a mirage on the distant horizon. With our car parked under the watchful eyes of vigilant security guards, we entered the restaurant and were immediately transported to far distant lands. The décor is tasteful and in keeping with the Indian cuisine for which Dehli Palace is renowned. Waitrons sported intricate waistcoats and fezes, making us feel as though we were in the land of the IPL.
The proof of a restaurant, of course, is in the food which they serve. As we sat down at our table, we were served with crispy poppadoms, accompanied by a selection of sauces; some fiery hot and others more suited to a “Western” palate. As we sampled our poppadoms, we perused the menu. It’s a menu that requires deep thought because the choices are all so tempting and enticing. Manageress Maria Mnaba was on hand to guide us through the menu and point out the “heat” levels of various dishes.
There is a comprehensive range of starters, designed to whet your appetite and gear you up for the main course. We tried beef mishka (skewer-grilled, marinated beef) which literally fell off the skewer because it was so tender, chicken samoosas — tantalisingly crisp exteriors and a filling packed with delicate flavours, and the prawn savouries — juicy prawns cocooned in a flavoursome batter. We were set and ready for the next course.
I think my favourite thing about an Indian meal is the variety of side dishes that accompany the main course. Cucumber raita, Dhal, naan bread, roti and other accompaniments are on offer. I was very keen to try the lamb kurma and I was not disappointed. Mild and flavoursome, this creamy textured curry was delicious. I have to confess that I needed a tall glass of Lassi, a sweetened buttermilk drink, to soften the bite of the curry. But that’s just my “milder than thou” palate and not a poor reflection on the dish. The tandoori lamb chops were tender and had a piquant but balanced flavour. The more adventurous member of our party chose the beef salan, a beef and potato stew with a flurry of spices, including cinnamon, turmeric, cardamom and cloves, as well as garlic and chilis. This dish was on the hotter side, but once again, wasn’t fire-engine hot, but it did clear the sinuses. At the end of the meal we felt replete and satisfied. The carefully constructed flavours of the dishes really appealed to our taste buds.
Speciality Restaurant5 PlatesExpect to spend US$30 – US$45Greystone Park Shopping Centre
