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72 Cork Road
Avondale
704485

A LITTLE INDIAN JEWEL ON CORK 2011
Once in a while you find a little gem and that is exactly what happened on a crisp autumn evening at The Indian Food Joint, located at the bottom end of Cork Road near the Kensington shops. After a brief and easy call in the afternoon to make the reservation for the same evening, we were delighted to end up in a rather cosy, intimate and colourful dining area.  Having never dined at The Indian Food Joint before, we had no idea what we were in for, and were actually slightly hesitant on arrival as the first impression is more of a summer venue with a gazebo style eating area and veranda area with bench type furniture.  However, after receiving a very friendly and warm greeting from Nazir, we were shown to our table in the intimate dining room set slightly deeper into the converted house, very tastefully decorated in mauves and purple to capture a delicate essence of India, even better was the softly played and most relaxing, beautiful Indian and meditation inspired music in the background.

As soon as we were seated our drinks order was taken and menus handed to us.  The starter menu ($5 - $10) was very simply laid out together with fruit drinks, coffees and teas.  While we waited for our drinks, Nazir gently took us through the procedure of helping ourselves to the hot buffet ($15) of chicken, fish, beef, vegetables and dahl, the procedure is also clearly set out on the menu;  requiring each diner to first clean their hands with an anti-bacterial gel, before collecting a nice hot, clean plate from a warming draw in the hostess trolley and then dishing up for oneself, a procedure you are requested to repeat each time you wish to help yourself to another helping.  You are advised to keep the helpings small (as you are allowed to help yourself to more as many times as you want) and start with the cooler spicy dishes and build up to the hotter dishes at the end of the meal.

As the restaurant does not yet have a liquor licence (though you are allowed to take your own and no corkage is charged), we settled for juice and soft drinks which arrived soon after having taken our orders, followed not long after by our starters of dainty chicken pieces (with a bite) on a skewer, a couple of samoosas and some dipping sauces, all enticingly laid out on a beautiful square white plate, the taste and flavours did not disappoint.  Very different from other Indian restaurants we have been to previously, the menu here is based on South Indian cuisine with spices and flavours being far more subtle and light.  These same light and wonderful flavours carried through to our main buffet course of one each; fish, tandoori chicken and beef which was thankfully not curry hot.  Of course you could add some very hot spices from a small side dish provided at that table.  Equally tasty were the vegetable dishes of softly spiced brinjal and potatoes, or a most lovely bowl of dahl.  To round off the flavours there were also the condiments of tomato and onion or cool cucumber and yoghurt.

Another big plus, with and inclusive of the meal, was the basket of Indian Naan bread, Chipatis and a wonderful yellow and spicy, slightly crispy fried dough to help mop up the mouth-watering juices that one should just not leave on the plate. To round off the evening, we were presented with a buffet of cold deserts to choose from.  We settled on a minty-chocolate trifle and a banana custard.   Unfortunately, this is the point where we felt slightly disappointed as the deserts did not really represent Indian sweet things, which really would have been the cherry on top of a wonderful evening meal....  saved though, by a spicy hot cup of chai tea with cardamom and things which was totally delicious.  My partner had a cup of filter coffee which was the real deal with full bodied flavour and aroma.

Certainly an intimate meal experience with great service and value for money that I would highly recommend to friends.  I would gladly go back again to appreciate the attention given by Vik, the owner and “man of the kitchen”, who it seems regularly mingles with his customers. 
Speciality Restaurant
4 Plates
Expect to spend between US$25 and US$35 per head
Open for lunch Wednesday – Sunday and dinner Wednesday – Saturday
72 Cork Road, Avondale

 

NYR