München is for Curry, there’s Bier too but since Steve discovered the Indian Mango (Zweibrückenstraße 15, 80331, München) a few years back, this has been a priority. Dr. Stan was nowhere to be seen and would no doubt have had an enormous Breakfast. Clive and Maggie did not fancy Curry, most unusual, when Steve said he was game this let Marg off the hook as spectator. Marg was left wandering around the Viktualienmarkt as Hector and Steve strode down im Tal towards the Isar. It was not even Noon and we had been in München for a couple of hours already.
There was a warm welcome from Herr Battra, Mein Host who has been ever-present for some years now. As our visit continued and more Lunchtime Diners arrived it was amazing to observe the welcome, there is clearly a very Loyal Customer Base, it was like an episode of Cheers.
The order was simple, Fisch Chettinad (not on The Menu) and Lamb Chettinad for Steve, both Trocken and Scharf. No sooner had the order been taken when The Proprietor, Mr Jolly Kunjapu emerged from the rear of the premises. He was straight over, I took it upon myself to introduce Steve and relate it was Steve who first brought me here. Business is going well he assured us. Jolly asked about the Website, Two and a Half Million Visitors – I said. We’ll try for Two and a Half Billion was his response. That’s a lot of Curry.
With the Kitchen the other side of the partition from where we sat, we could hear every scrape of the preparation process. The Aroma of Fish rose to join the Indigenous Aroma of Dark Red Chillies. Here comes the Curry.
Served with Plain Rice, the Chettinad Dishes are Dry, yet I could never consider not having Rice, it’s just how it is. The Fisch Chettinad has evolved over the years, the Chefs look similar to previous visits, so why the differences, who knows. Gone was the Grittiness from the Coriander Stems, Curry and Bay Leaves now give the Gritty, Earthy Flavours. As ever with South Indian Cuisine, the Dark Red Chillies gave off a Smoky Flavour. The Fish was in Breadcrumbs, a First. This too added a slight Crunch. The Minimal Masala packed a Kick. Stunning Food.
Has the portion size shrunk, the Bowls seemed Smaller. Does this mean the start of another Curry-Heute campaign?
Jolly came over once again, this time he presented Poppadoms and a Seriously Spiced Lime Chutney. For once I managed to eat all of the Rice, Steve left a smidgen.
Steve thoroughly enjoyed his Lamb variant, he doesn’t get Fish Curry. Lamb next time for Hector, tomorrow.
The Bill
€34.65. Indian Mango is not cheap, but is there a better Curry House in München, Deutschland, Mainland Europe… ?
The Aftermath
There was time for a Bier, and maybe another.
Look who we found in the Augustiner Gross Gastätten