INDIA Fine Dining Indian Restaurant, Marsascala.
:
Positives
“This last item on the menu, the desserts, are a plus point for this restaurant, as there is nothing more annoying, when dining at an ethnic restaurants such as an Indian restaurant, and the desserts available are simply run-of-the-mill, out-sourced cakes and stuff that has nothing to do with the regional ethnic cuisine of the establishment”.
Dinner at INDIA Fine Indian Dining Restaurant, Marsascala.
I must have passed from in front of this restaurant a hundred times or more since it was re-opened under its new name. concept and management in February of this year. The premises had housed to other restaurants previously, viz Langostini Restaurant, and a Chinese restaurant. Since the place was taken over by its new operators it has been completely refurbished and installed as a fine dining Indian restaurant, offering the best Indian cuisine from various regions of this vast country (India, that is), professionally prepared by three Indian Chefs under the keen supervision of the owner, Charles Foca, who during our visit there, demonstrated a very good knowledge of Indian cuisine, spices, and preparations. This bodes well for this restaurant, as there is nothing better to make a special concept successful, then to have the whole team on the same wavelenght and knowledge.
The restaurant itself is situated on the first floor of the building, in Triq Id-Dahla Ta’ San Tumas, Marsascala. That is when one is driving out of St.Thomas Bay, and taking a sharp left turn on the Re Leone corner. It is a bit away from the hussle and bustle of Marsacala itself, but then again this could be a plus point for easy parking on the road, near the restaurant.
It has always been our practice to visit a new restaurant with view to carry out a review of it, some weeks or even months as in this case, from its opening, as it is always fair to give a new establishment and its staff to find their feet and settle down. We were not disappopinted in this case.
India Fine Dining Restaurant, is run with the aim of providing a quiet, romantic dining experience, with excellent and attentive service, and fine Indian food. One of their established policies is, that children under the age of seven years of age are not allowed in the restaurant.
The menu offers very good regional selections of Indian appetizers ; soups; sizzling dishes; chicken, lamb and beef curries; daily specials, and a selection of in-house made Indian desserts. This last item, the desserts, are a plus point for this restaurant, as there is nothing more annoying, when dining at an ethnic restaurants such as an Indian restaurant, and the desserts available are simply run-of-the-mill, out-sourced cakes and stuff that has nothing to do with the regional ethnic cuisine of the establishment.
Our food choices:
On ordering our food choices we were served with an amuse bouche of poppodams with a mint dip and cashew curry dip.
Starters and appetzisers:
Although the appetizer platter is recommended for four persons, it could be tailored for two nevertheless and we opted for this as a starter. A selective choice of the Samosa; Onion Bhaji; Paneer Pakora which turned out to be delicious soft cottage cheese, which is made in-house, cated in spicy batter of chick pea flour, and deep fried; and Pakora which is the traditional deep fried vegetable fritter coated in a spicy batter of chick pea batter.
As a second course we opted for the Dhal soup which is a thick soup made from lentils, garlic, and Indian spices; and a delicious, spicy, chicken soup with strips of chicken breast.
Main Courses to share were a selection of:
King prawns tandoori - six king prawns, marinated in garlic, ginger and Indian spices and cooked in a tandoori oven;
A recommended dish from the specials made with a thick and spicy curry sauce with pieces of beef, which was not on the main menu.
Spicy potatoes and raisin Naan bread to scoop up the sauces.
Desserts:
The Indian speciality desserts were explained to us, and as if we had not eaten enough already, we were offered a tasting selection of these desserts, which included a cordoman flavoured, in-house made ice-cream.
Wine List: India Fine Dining Restaurant offer a very good wine choice, with all selection being priced at the normal retail price with just a small corkage fee of EUR4.90 placed on any bottle regardless of price. Diners can also take their own wine to consume at this restaurant with food orders, and likewise the same corkage fee is charged, which is fair enough.
Service: Is very smooth and hassle free.
Value for money: Food prices at this restaurant, are aimed to give the best value for money, for good quality cuisine, in an up-scale Indian restaurant. The total price for the above dinner, excluding the cost of a very good New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc, and a bottle of water, came up to a very reasonable and affordable EUR58 between two persons or EUR29 per person.
Reviewers Impressions:
Ambience: Good.
Internal atmosphere and decor: Very Good.
Cuisine quality and authenticity: Very Good.
Preparations and presentation: Very Good.
Wine List: Good choices with corkage fee mark-up only on the retail price.
Service: very Good.
Value for money: Very Good+
RATING: 8.5/10 Indian ethnic cuisine.
RECOMMENDED.
Contact details:
India Fine Dining Restaurant,
Triq Id-Dahla Ta’ San Tumas,
Marsascala (limits of St.Thomas Bay).
Tel: 2788 8400.
