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117 King George Road,
Avondale,
740714,740919, 0775 495 064, 0773 277 400

Jaipur – authentic Indian cuisine in suburban setting 2011
My choice to eat Indian food out has always been a love/hate relationship, whether it’s in Harare or London; I always anticipate incredibly fiery fare.  The Jaipur Restaurant, now conveniently located at 117 King George Road in Avondale, is the exception.  They offer many delicately spiced dishes for those with a fragile disposition, but also offer something more tantalising in the chilli department, should your tastebuds demand.

Like many restaurants that have opened in the suburbs of Harare recently, one would be forgiven in thinking a wrong turn had been taken into someone’s home.  Apart from the sign, the exterior at 117 King George Road is completely devoid of anything indicating an Indian theme, apart from a few highly decorated and glittery wall hangings depicting elephants and female goddesses, inside.   The furniture and table decorations are boarding school functional and I wish the owners would just go that extra mile and give some credible thought to the décor, as ambience is a huge part of the eating out experience.

There are a variety of dishes, mostly northern Indian in origin, so it was a nice surprise to see masala dosa from the south west, on the menu.  I mention this because very few Indian restaurants offer this dish unless they specifically promote southern Indian cooking.  This is vegetarian heaven too, with so many delicious veggie options.   One of the delights of eating Indian is the arrival of crispy poppadums at the very outset, which make this part of the meal a real ice breaker.  Matched with the timely arrival of cold beers (there were three choices) adds to the culinary adventure.  Coriander, mango and spicy carrot chutneys went perfectly with the crispy golden circles.  The starter was a mixed platter of samoosas, deep fried aloo vada (potato dumplings), pakoda or pakoras (little potato fritters made with spicy chick pea flour) and onion rings, all delightfully crunchy and satisfactorily spiced. 

The menu offered a wide variety of both vegetarian and non vegetarian dishes, the most familiar being lamb rogan gosht, chicken korma, matter paneer, birianis and masala dosa. I made a mental note of the fish Biriani for next time.  The crispy dosa made with rice flour was filled with a dry potato curry, which unfortunately lacked sufficient spices.  The accompanying lentil gravy, though, was full of flavour.  I was transported back to the famous Sree Krishna restaurant in Tooting, SW London. The colours of the different dishes when they arrived were a feast for the eyes. The deep dark earthy sauce of the rogan gosht looked enticingly fiery whilst the creamy golden yellow of the korma oozed with the promise of spicy sweetness.

I absolutely love Kulfi, a pistachio and rose flavoured ice cream and was so looking forward to it, especially as it was muggy outside.  I had to physically restrain myself from showing my disappointment after being informed that only local vanilla ice cream was available out of a choice of four desserts. I nursed my displeasure by ordering a chai (tea) hoping the gentle spices would have a calming effect.  It was pleasant with cinnamon overtones but I have tasted better.

With the correct marketing (well done for being at Charara this year for the Tiger Fishing Tournament) the Jaipur just might ride high enough to be one of the best in its category, although serious attention is needed in the décor department. I wouldn’t say the food is outstanding, but it’s good, very good, and potentially a great venue for an authentic Indian experience.  If they realise the expectations of their diners (traditional décor, all authentic dishes being readily available), they could do extremely well during the upcoming festive season.
Speciality Restaurant
4 Plates
Expect to pay between $25 and $35

Jaipur – Good, Authentic Indian Cuisine, needs tweaks for better ambience (2010)
Indian restaurants figured prominently on my social calendar when I was a young impoverished flat dwelling professional in London. I quickly graduated from the local Indian’s offering of Britain’s favourite dish – Chicken Tika Masala – to Southern Indian dishes, in particular Masala Dosa, a rice flour pancake filled with potato and onion curry, even though this involved a tube journey to High Street, Kilburn.

Eating at Jaipur also involves for most of us a journey for it is situated at the end of the runway of the old International Airport in Belvedere. You know you are in the right place when you drive down the vast expanse of Boeing Road and see Sunrise Sports Club ahead. Further confirmation, if needed, is given by the tantalizing smell of oriental spices as you climb up to the Sports Club balcony, pass the open kitchen door and finally reach the restaurant.

Imagine my joy all those years ago when I first came to Harare on discovering that my much loved Masala Dosa was available at Jaipur. My disappointment was palpable when I recently took a friend for lunch on Sunday to Jaipur and discovered that they were serving the now much favoured (and economical at $12) Sunday buffet and there was not a Dosa in sight.

So I returned this time on a weekday at lunch time, not a popular time for those restaurants not favoured by “ladies who lunch” or “men who network”.  And indeed it was so, for we were initially the only diners, but were joined later by three others. There appeared to be only one waiter who was definitely not Indian, and 2 ladies at the reception desk, one whom was Indian but told me she had never been to the Continent! Undeterred, and knowing that the food is always freshly prepared and so takes some time to arrive, we ordered our usual plate of mixed starters.  On a recent visit my “proper” friends declared that wine should not be drunk with Indian food, so I was not unduly disappointed when the waiter told us there was no wine but we could have beer or local spirits and soft drinks.  However the only beer available was Castle and it emerged later in the meal when we requested a refill that there were only three cans – one for each of us and the third for our friend dining alone at the next table.  I would have been overly impressed had an Indian beer (Cobra if my memory serves me right) been offered but would have settled for a selection of locally available ones of which there is an abundance in the shops.

Conscious of a job to be done, we ordered a bottle of water to accompany our starters – tasty chicken samoosa, pakodas (potato, onion and green pepper in a spicy chick pea batter),  aloo wada and superbly crispy onion rings.  These were accompanied by delicious coriander pesto and poppadoms. Only the pakados disappointed as they lacked both spices and seasoning.  Unfortunately our plates were cold, no chutney was available and when requested, only overly thin yoghurt was produced.

For our main courses we chose fish biriani ($12, fish and rice cooked in spices), mattar paneer ($9, cottage cheese and green dried peas in a spicey gravey) and, of course, masala dosa ($7). The fish was wonderfully mild and piquant, the dosa a delightfully crispy rice flour pancake, but the spiced gravy of the mattar paneer was overhot and masked all the other flavours.  Although three deserts were listed on the menu, Kolfi, Jalabee and Gulab Jamboo, only the latter was available and we declined, as neither of us felt inclined towards this particularly sweet desert.  From past visits I knew the coffee to be of dubious quality but we decided to order it anyway. W e needn’t have worried as they had no coffee whatsoever and only Zimbabwean tea – green tea with cardamom would have been an exotic substitute and not beyond the bounds of possibility these days.  

To sum up, Jaipur serves freshly prepared authentic Indian food which merits better “support” i.e. ambience than at present.  Some suggestions would be Indian music, an Indian style tunic top for the waiter, proper sambals, enough beer to accompany the meal, mixed seeds to cleanse the palate after, a properly presented bill (ours was handwritten on a piece of paper torn from a notebook) and change (there was no change for my $10), and most importantly the diners must be made to feel welcome and special.            
Speciality Restaurant
3 Plates
Expect to spend $16 to $24   

 

JAIPUR RESTAURANT – understated Indian dining 2009
Here I am once again listening to the sweet throb of the generator whilst I write this review. This seems to have become our daily source of electricity in the eternal “Sunshine City of Harare”. We are also having to deal with our daily dose of erratic driving to avoid the ever increasing rainy season “potholes,” which I might add are prolific on the way to the once ever clean and gleaming suburb of Sunrise which is where our Restaurant is housed.

Upon arrival I was aware that the sports club and its surrounding areas seem to be looking rather shabby and in the need of a “mini makeover”, however I can only surmise that like the rest of our local clubs they are fighting for survival in an increasingly difficult financial economy. We had decided to have a quiet dinner for two during a busy working week and having not been to the Jaipur for some time, we decided to give it a try. My past experience of the Jaipur and large bookings was not impressive; however I was hoping that for two we would have a good meal.

We were led to a quite table, outside as requested when I booked. Unfortunately the restaurant was very quiet with only a few diners inside and another couple outside. They have two waiters who appear to be a bit on the slow, unsure side. However, the owner himself was working the floor, and promptly bought the menus and took a drinks order. There was no wine; however you are encouraged to bring your own. Our drinks arrived promptly, chilled and with lots of ice.

The restaurant is much understated, the décor very unassuming and plain. Nothing in this restaurant stands out as far as its appearance is concerned. It is however tidy and clean with simple tables laid with the basic requirements. The owner is very approachable and hands on. He happily explained the menu and was keen to promote his curries. The menu has a good variation and has an extensive vegetarian selection. As most vegetarians will realise this is unusual in itself when it comes to Harare Restaurant Dining. I would imagine our local “veggies” battle to find somewhere to eat out in Harare. There is a wide selection of starters to choose from; however I can imagine that the Starter Platter that you can order for any amount of dinners consists of a good varied selection. We opted for the Platter and when it came it was piping hot, freshly cooked and delicious. It came with a lovely coriander and chili dipping sauce. The platter itself consisted of: Onion rings, Chicken Samoosas, Crispy Chicken Bites, a lovely Potato Pakora and Crumbed Chicken.

For our mains we ordered the Mutton Curry, the Chicken Karai, Rice and a Crispy Naan Garlic Bread. These arrived promptly after our starters were cleared on plain white plates with the food served in small silver bowls. One with rice and one with the curry. The “small” garlic naan came on a silver salver followed by a small bowl of salad. We were offered extra chili, however we declined. The rice was cooked perfectly, fluffy, light and not at all the normal sticky stodgy mess that I seem to get in a restaurant. The Mutton Curry was as said: “tender, spicy, rich and full of flavour”. The  Chicken Karai was again full of flavour with those delicious Indian spices coming to the fore, however the chicken itself was slightly overcooked with the meat itself very stringy and falling apart. Unfortunately overcooking chicken will do that. The meal itself was very enjoyable and there was plenty of it. Desserts as always were the basic “ice cream” and an Indian variety called “Kulfi”. It always amazes me how so many of our local restaurants consistently have a rather limited and unimaginative dessert menu. That being said, I ordered the Kulfi ice cream just to have a taste, and found it very unusual and pleasant on the palate with Pistachio nuts, coconut and spicy undertones. Very simple again, and in keeping with the actual Restaurant …. Understated.

All in all, a pleasant and enjoyable meal, sufficient quantities, a good variety, and not at all bad on the purse strings. If you want a quick, quiet, tasty and relaxing Indian meal, I would recommend the Jaipur, most certainly after a busy, stressful Harare working day!
Speciality Restaurant
4 Plates
Expect to spend $10 to $15 per head

 

Jaipur - food delightful, service good prices very reasonable! 2008
Jaipur is situated above the Sunrise Sports Club in Ridgeview, with a view over the sports grounds, which are looking very green and lush at the moment.  The front wall is almost entirely glass, so it feels very light and airy.  We were there for lunch, but I imagine the view of the city lights at night would be just as good.

There is ample safe parking in the sports club grounds.  It feels far away from the hustle and bustle of the city and the endless street kids and the piles of uncollected rubbish, but is only a few minutes from town.  The interior is clean and neat but the décor and ambience are not particularly Indian in flavour, apart from two Indian pictures on the walls and very soft Indian music playing from a small portable music centre.  Unfortunately when we were there, on a Saturday lunch time, there was only one other table of diners, so it felt a bit flat, but apparently Friday and Saturday nights and Sunday lunch are very busy. TelOne, (or should that be TelNone) has struck again and all their lines are down, so it is impossible to make a booking. Opening hours are Tuesday to Saturday – lunch and dinner – Sunday lunch only and closed Mondays.  One gripe was that they share the toilets with the Sports Club, and while they were clean there was no loo paper or hand soap.  Not very healthy in these times of cholera! 

The service was good – we had our waiter all to ourselves – he was cheerful and helpful and even made some suggestions about what to order.  Drinks were served promptly – they have a full range of beers, spirits and soft drinks, but no wine, which seemed a bit unusual, however you can take your own wine if that’s your particular poison.  We chose to stick to beer and soft drinks, but I suppose if we were really in the mood for the old British Raj experience it should have been the traditional gin and tonic, which was the favourite of the proper colonials. 

The menu is quite extensive but well explained.  About half of all the starters and main courses are vegetarian; the non-vegetarian section includes a variety of chicken, lamb and seafood, fish and prawns.  The vegetarian starters sounded quite delicious.  Amongst other dishes were Paneer Tika (spiced and fried cottage cheese stuffed in mini naan bread) and Alloo Wada (potato with garlic, ginger and chillies fried in chickpea batter).  There is also a mixed vegetarian platter which would be great for two, to try all the fascinating flavours on offer.  For non-vegetarians there is also a mixed platter, which we ordered.  It had small pieces of Kashmiri Chicken (spiced and coated in bread crumbs and fried) Muglei Chicken (fried in chickpea batter) mini Chicken Samoosas and some fried spiced potato balls.  It was served with delicious very hot home made mango chutney and a coriander sauce.  Although the portion looked quite small it was actually very satisfying and just the right amount.  I was disappointed that they don’t serve papadams, which I love, but they do have Chapati and Naan bread available as well as a kind of bread called Puri, which I haven’t come across before.  It was explained as small round flat bread made with brown flour.

Vegetarian main courses, of which there are plenty to choose from, included a vegetarian briyani and Masala Dhosa, which sounded intriguing, a potato and onion curry wrapped in a rice flour pancake.  We decided to go for the non-veg options.  My partner had Chicken Karai, chicken pieces in a gravy of tomato, green pepper, onions and spices.  It was very good, and as we both ordered medium, not too hot but satisfyingly spicy.  It had a hint of a liquorice taste, maybe fennel, which was quite intriguing.  I was torn between the lamb briyani and the prawn curry served with rice and tomato and onion garnish. After much indecision I decided on the prawns. The gravy was good but tended to overpower the taste of the prawns. 

My partner was too full to sample the desserts – not a huge selection – but I couldn’t resist ordering the Kulfi – a traditional homemade Indian ice cream flavoured with almonds.  There were also some other gentle spices I could taste, maybe cinnamon or cardamon, but it was very moreish.

Altogether the food was delightful, the service good and the prices very reasonable.  I’m looking forward to going back, maybe on a Friday or Saturday night when it’s a little more busy and bustling to get a better feel of the ambience.  I understand a lot of the locals eat there which is usually a good recommendation of the quality and authenticity of the food.
Speciality Restaurant
3 Plates