Lord Clive and Lady Maggie of Crawley had been made aware of a new Curry House in the Langley Green Neighbourhood of their town. A taxi was taken to Dosa Club (8 Langley Parade, Crawley RH11 7RS) from Three Bridges after, another Sunday at part of the Bermondsey Beer Mile and Borough Market.
Dosa Club is a Curry Cafe in the preferred Hector style, no pretensions here, no tablecloths, and sensible prices. The Menu was not vast, it did have the Dish which The Hector associates most with South Indian Cuisine – Chettinad. Hector, Marg and Clive would all order Mutton Chettinad (£6.75). After her – too Spicy – Curry at The Downsman on Friday night, Maggie chose Chicken Korma (£5.95). A Variety of Sundries were required: Peas Pilao (£3.75) and Chapattis (£2.95) served as a Pair for Hector and Marg. Our Fellow Diners would share a Sambar Rice (£3.95) and an Egg Veechu Roti (£3.25).
Starters were declared, Hector spotted Mutton Roll (£2.50) which would be a new experience. This was also appreciably cheaper than the other options. Marg went for Gobi 65 (£4.95), Clive – Potato Devilled (£4.95), Maggie – Gobi Manchurian (£5.95). The use of – 65 – in Crawley Menus has puzzled over the years. This refers to its position on the Menu, hence Chicken 65 is meant to be the sixty fifth Dish in order of listing. Gobi 65 at Dosa Club is seventh. So it goes.
Croquettes
The Mutton Roll, singular, came as a Pair, would I be charged double? With a Spicy, Tomato Chutney accompanying, this was truly a Worthy Starter. Dissecting the Croquette revealed pieces of Dry Lamb, Peas (few) and Mashed Potato. The Roll was well Spiced, Tasty, Excellent. This was easily the best – Croquette – I have ever been served. There’s two of them!
Cauliflower
Gobi 65
The Gobi 65 was a Spicy Pakora served with Lemon.
Marg: A nice way to eat Cauliflower, thoroughly enjoyable.
Marg declared she would certainly order this again.
Gobi Manchurian
The appearance was markedly different from the drier Gobi 65. Here was a Stir Fry with Flavours which were sourced from east of the Indian Subcontinent. This was Spicy, as Maggie would testify. She described her Melange as having – Red Chilli Onions – It had a Chinese essence.
Potatoes
This was rather simple, and featured a couple of pieces of the Dreaded Capsicum.
This is a good Opperchancity for Hector to mention the above posted Recipe for Devilled Beef.
The Waiter offered us our Mains just as we were finishing the Starters, more time was asked for. Dosa Club closes early, it was approaching 21.00. We could see that all the other Diners were ordering – Dosa. The Chap from Burgess Hill who had recommended Dosa Club to Maggie came in with his family, he was surprised to see us. I had to ask him about the attraction of Dosa. Crispy, tasty, and it’s big – was his explanation. One day The Hector will sample one, meanwhile, I want my Dinner, proper.
The Sundries
There was more than enough Rice to share. The Chapattis were Standard, Marg considered them to be – Thin – but is used to the Punjabi Chapattis served in Glasgow.
Only Clive tackled the Egg Veechu Roti. This looked like French Toast gone wrong – Bread Omelette with Onion.
Bread Omelette? (Moi)
Certainly stuffed, not just a hint of stuffing, well stuffed.
The Sambar Rice looked – Stodgy. We all looked at it…well… Then there was the realisation that Ghee had been poured over it. I don’t think any of us were ready for this. The Sambar Rice was abandoned after half had been divvied.
Chicken Korma
This is not a Dish that appears often in Curry-Heute, Hector is never going to order it. Maggie has done the World a favour. Her normal practise after a Starter is not to finish her Main. Tonight was not different, she was beaten by the volume, a Takeaway was arranged, inevitably.
The Chicken was tender and huge – stated Maggie. The following will amuse the Regular Readers:
Spicier than expected. (Eh? It’s a Korma!)
Whilst the sauce was creamy, there was a lack of Coconut Flavour for a Korma.
I took her word for it, no way was The Hector going to contaminate his palate.
Those who wish to create a Chicken Korma, Spicy, or otherwise should click here.
Mutton Chettinad
Only in München at the Indian Mango has Hector ever been served a Dry Chettinad. One has come to accept – Soup – being served everywhere else. The Blended Masala at Dosa Club was indeed Soupy. The Smoky Flavour associated with South Indian Cuisine was there. Well Spiced and Well Seasoned, the Masala worked well with the ten, very Soft pieces of Lamb. When the Masala soaked into the Rice the Dish looked Superb. Black and Green Cardamoms were unearthed, Curry Leaf and Red Chillies were present too. The overall impression was the 1960s revisited. I have been writing this a lot of late, I have been eating a lot of South Indian Curry.
Marg remarked – A very rich, earthy flavour, a little too hot for my palate. The Rice was a change, the Chapatti went down well with the gravy.
Bloody excellent – said Clive, he was not for holding back. The meat was plentiful and tender, lovely.
Impressive as this Standard Interpretation of Mutton Chettinad was, I wonder if they could serve it – Dry?
The Bill
£57.15. Four Main Courses, Four Starters, Excellent Value. The Mutton Rolls were £2.50 for the pair!
The Aftermath
The Calling Card was given and politely received. We were now past closing time.
We’ll be back…
