Excellent Curry, easily the Best I’ve had outside of Glasgow/Bradford in some time, perhaps years – Hector wrote of Ambal’s Restaurant (4 Bridge St., Aberdeen, AB11 6JJ) as recently as December 2015; I promised to return. Since then the Lahori Taste in Huddersfield may have claimed the accolade, not to overlook either the impressive Pak Taka Tak in Athena (Hellas) this very week. Pak Taka Tak have passed the Curry-Heute Test by repeating the Excellent Food served on a previous visit. Tonight, Ambal’s would undergo this assessment.
Last visit, Mein Host promised that a Dry version of Fish Chettinad could be prepared even though it is not on their Menu. With this in mind I booked online earlier in the week and added this comment.
Marg and Hector are in Aberdeen to celebrate a Sister-in-Law’s 60th Birthday. 60th Birthdays are all the rage this year. This Festivity is scheduled for tomorrow in what will be a Ohne Curry-Heute Experience. Tonight Marg has invited Alison and Angus to join us at Ambal’s Restaurant, it would become clear that Angus in particular loves his Curry.
Arriving at 18.40, a full twenty minutes before our Booking Time, I was instantly impressed by the number of Diners in situ. I counted over thirty. During our visit they would all depart, replacements arrived. Ambal’s is doing well, they have only been open some eighteen months and there is much competition in the City Centre.
With my Review of Visit #1 pre-loaded on the Replacement Samsung, I kept looking for Mein Host and/or the Waiter who appeared in the photo of that evening, no joy. No Fish Chettinad for Hector today?
Marg had plenty of time to consider her options. I recommended the Bhuna Gosht (£11.95) which had impressed so much in December. Marg said nothing, but I knew she had spotted the Aberdeen Bread Syndrome in full force, a single – Chapathi – (sic) at £2.95. I refer The Reader to the Homepage of this Humble Blog once again. A Garlic and Coriander Naan at £3.95 ironically starts to sound better value. A few days ago in Athens, the Breads were flying at us, for Pennies or Gratis.
Alison and Angus arrived punctually, their debut in Curry-Heute. Marg led the way with Poppadoms – For Three – the order. Once more, The Hector refused to partake in this nonsense, just how much would appear on The Bill for what is Complimentary in many venues?
Angus took advice on the Bhuna Gosht with a Keema Naan (£4.50) to accompany. Alison chose the Mugalai Korma (£11.95) – Chicken cooked in onion, cashew nut, poppy seed paste, and finished with roasted fennel. Another Garlic and Coriander Naan was added to the order.
Having established earlier who Mein Host would be this evening, I invited him over for discourse. I showed him the Photo of the staff I had encountered last visit and described the Challenge. An attempted Replica of the Fish Chettinad served in Munich’s Indian Mango is what I had been promised. The Replacement Samsung was taken to the kitchen, was The Chef up for this?
Nein
Mein Host related The Chef’s comment that as this (on the Photo) did not have the Chettinad Masala then it was not Chettinad. Chettinad needs the Sauce. Mein Host assured me that I would really enjoy their version. I was still in two minds whether or not to accept this substitute at the time Mein Host was taking the order from our company. Marg insisted I have the Fish Chettinad, even offering to swop if as I feared, it would come swimming in Shorva. For the record, the Fisch Chettinad served at Indian Mango has all the Flavour of Chettinad and more, Spicy, Smokey, one of Life’s Greatest Pleasures. It can be done. June 2016 is the next planned visit.
A Side
Hector has had enough Lamb this week and plenty of Rice and Bread. The Vegetarian Main Courses at Ambal’s are on offer as Sides for £4.95. The Hara Pyaz Aloo was something different – Potato and spring onion enriched with onion and tomato masala finished with asafoetida.
Six Poppadoms arrived with two sets of Dips. Yes, I was tempted, but stuck to my principles. Had I known it would be an hour before The Mains would arrive, I may have changed my mind. Angus particularly enjoyed the Spiciest of the Dips, the Ladies took care of the Mild.
Pani Puri
Another Chap brought the Complimentary Starter – Pani Puri. The Lightest of somewhere between Bread and Pastry, partly filled with Chickpea and Potato. In effect, a receptacle for the Tamarind Sauce which The Waiter poured in. He invited each of us in turn to take in the Pani Puri in one go. Alison remarked on the hit at the back of the the throat with little Flavour on the tongue. Indeed, but this is how they desire us to eat this Tangy Novelty, not to sip.
The Breads
The three Naans were presented in baskets, quartered. Again I question the merits of this. It does take up less space on the table, but one does not get a full picture of the size of what has been served. At Aberdeen Bread Prices, one would like to see. The Keema Naan did not have the Individual Grains of Mince which Hector believes make them Special. The Pink Layer of what ends up looking like Donner was spotted. I made no remark, this was Angus’ choice. Marg would comment for hours afterwards on the Flavour of the Garlic and Coriander Naan. This impressed.
Mugalai Korma
Not a Dish The Hector would consider. Angus made it clear that with Coconut on board, he would not be sampling it either.
Bhuna Gosht
This is a classic Hector-style Curry. With a Thick, not Excessive Masala, this ticks the boxes. Angus was most certainly taken by it. His progress was systematic. Marg thought he might need a Doggy Bag, no way. The second half of the Dish was decanted, the Metal Bowl wiped clean with the Naan, the remainder devoured. Whilst Marg enjoyed her Bhuna Gosht, Angus really did, evidently.
To date, Bhuna Gosht is regarded as the Ambal’s Signature Dish.
And so to Hector
Fish Chettinad
OK, so this is not on Ambal’s Menu, it had been prepared specially for The Hector. A Large Bowl of Fish swimming in Sauce is what was set before me. Way too much Masala, for any Curry. The Quantity of Fish was not overwhelming. With no Vegetable, or other distraction in the Masala, I was glad I had ordered the Vegetable Side. The Masala was the Classic 1960s Onion and Oil based Sauce. It was not the Watery Shorva I feared, as has been served to me in another Aberdeen Curry House. The Kick was Fierce. One assumes a Fish Curry will be well-seasoned, this was. The anticipated Chettinad-Smokey Flavour was present. The customary Dark Red Chilli floating on top of the Masala was not. I was offered one quarter of Marg’s Garlic and Coriander Naan, as I knew she would. The Middle was Light and Fluffy, the Edges not so well maintained. The Naan provided another means of scooping the Masala. Having eschewed the cutlery on the table, Hector was using the serving spoons. Soup.
Hara Pyaz Aloo
This was Dry. Just enough Masala to cover the Potato, the way I like my Vegetable Curry. The Spring Onion had been sprinkled on, a Texture Variation, that which had attracted me to this Dish. This too had a Kick, however, the Shorva Flavours dominated. There was the temptation to decant the Side into the Chettinad Pot, that could have been sacrilegious.
When Mein Host came over I had to tell him – If the Chettinad had been served as Dry as the Har Pyaz Aloo then it would have been Perfect.
He promised me that next time he will me serve a Dry Fish Curry.
Why not this evening?
The Bill
£93.34. The Poppadoms and Dips were charged at £1.95 x 3.
The Aftermath
A Young Chap sitting at the adjacent table was served a Tower of Curry. It looked Spectacular. As it passed me by I could see a Minimal Masala covering, what….
I had to ask.
Sadly, I had inadvertently sneaked up on him and took him by surprise. Cough, choke. Sorry.
It was a Prawn something or other, he could not remember. He assured me it was Excellent.
The Ambal’s Restaurant website reveals all.
Karaikudi Yera Thokku (£14.95) – King prawns tossed in onions, tomato, chettinad spices tempered in mustard and finished in fresh coriander.
A Dry Chettinad-like Dish had just been served. I saw it with my own eyes.