Topic: South Indian Restaurants

[Garp]

It came to my attention recently that there was a new Indian restaurant open in the small town of Dalbeattie, not far from me. Unimaginately name the Taj Mahal.

I grabbed a menu which informed me that it offers South Indian cuisine. There are, obviously, brief descriptions on the menu, but just wondered if anyone had tried any of the following:

Lamb or Chicken Cheera
Chicken Chomok
Lamb Malabar
Lamb or Chicken Tomato Kurrukku
Chicken Cailcut
Chicken Uluva Kooto

As well as dosas and appam breads.

Cheers in advance,

Garp

[Peripatetic Phil]

If they really are Southern Indian, I would unhesitatingly go for the masala dosa and some of the numerous vegetarian starter options that are likely to be offered (examples below); I am a 100% carnivore, but Southern Indian vegetarian cuisine is an art-form that even I can appreciate.

** Phil.
--------
Upuma
Lightly fried semolina with onions and spices    

Aloo Bonda
Traditional spicy creamed potato balls in a light batter    
   
Mendu Vadai with Sambar
4 pieces served with chutney    

Masala Vadai or Mendu Vada
A spicy cutlet or a spicy donut    

Iddly Sambar
Lightly steamed ground-ricecakes served with tasty sambar and chutney
   
Sambar
A tasy savoury gravy, cooked with lentils, vegetables and tamarind juice
    
Adai and Avail
Delicious lentil pancake served with temperedvegetables cooked with coconut and butter    

Uthappam
Thick golden brown rice lentil pancakes topped with fresh tomatoes, onions, green chillies and ginger
   
Rasam
A soup consisting of tamrind juice, black pepper, frsh tomatoes, green chilli, garlic and ginge.    

Dahi Vadai
A lentil donut marianted in lightly spiced yoghurt

[Garp]

There are many vegetarian starters, and fish dishes, which makes me think that at least the chef is genuine.

Starters include:

Potato Bonda
Medhu Vada
Parippu Vada
Meen Varuthathu

As well as the soups

Rasam, and
Parippu.

And a variety of dosas

Also offering the usual suspects: Korma, Jalfrezi, blah blah blah

[macferret]

The only one I have tried is the Lamb Malabar, Garp. It was quite a dry sauce with a lot of coconut in it. Quite hot.  Most of the Southern Indian restaurants I have eaten in were vegetarian though.  Idlis, Uppams, Dhosa, Vadai - mmmmm.  We used to eat the stuff for late breakfast on a Sunday when I lived in South London.
Be interested to find out more about those dishes if you try them.
Cheers,
Tim

[Garp]

Thanks for the feedback, Tim.