Wednesday 18 June 2014

Bread and Tea, Indian Style


Roti Chai
When: June 2014

Oh no, another work dinner is what I normally say to myself but recently I have been spoiled.  Chiquitos and Nandos swapped for quality Turkish and Indian fare.  Tonight we were going Indian and we headed over to Roti Chai, located behind Oxford Street and close to Marble Arch tube station.  We went downstairs to the bar for a few drinks.  Other than the usual beers and wines there was an extensive cocktail and gin menu.  I tried a couple of the Indian themed cocktails which were delicious, both refreshing and spicy at the same time.


It was then time to eat.  We had a set menu with a selection of sharing plates with a choice of three starters and three mains, rice, dhals and bread as well as a choice of one of two desserts.  The starters were minced lamb kebabs, which were probably my favourite, an excellent chaat and chicken 65, which was not as tangy as what I had on our recent India trip.

For the main meal I tried a little of everything.  First up was the butter chicken, which was very good but could have had more chicken and more butter!  There was also a fish curry which was possibly the best of the three with just the right amount of fish and a rich spicy sauce.  The third dish was a Goan pork belly dish which was possibly the weakest of the three, the flavours were good but the texture was not so nice.  The potatoes on the side were crisp and tasty.  As for the sides, the bread and rice were well done.  Soft rice, crisp and buttery naans, great for mopping up all that delicious sauce.  The dhal and chickpeas were both nice, almost nicer than the mains.  In all I was pretty full and the food was at worst good and at best thoroughly delicious. 

To finish I went with the mango kulfi served as an ice lolly.  Whilst refreshing this was not a patch on what we had in Mumbai, there was no evidence of fresh fruit in the ice cream.  I also had a decent double espresso to awaken myself after all that food.

Overall this was a decent meal and as far as work meals go an excellent choice from those concerned.  The food was nicely presented, tasty and the portions suitably generous.  Service was good but a little slow and it wasn't initially clear that we had sharing plates from a set menu rather than individual choices.  If the price was right it would definitely be worth another try.

Roti Chai
3 Portman Mews South, London, W1H 6HS 
020 7408 0101
infowala@rotichai.com.