Two nights in Milano, there had to be one Curry-Heute. The usual array of Restaurants-proper appeared when doing media searches. The Punjab Restaurant (Via Errico Petrella, 19, 20124 Milano MI Lombardia Italia) became the focus of my attention, could it follow yesterday’s Outstanding Soupçon at Bombay Tandoory (Brescia)? Sources suggested this venue did not open until the evening, by the time of writing I had evidence that it may be permanently closed.
Not being put off, and determined to find Quality Curry this Lunchtime, Marg and Hector set out after noon. Punjab Restaurant is/was close to Milano Centrale. Given the Roman Model, if there’s one venue there could be more as is the case near Roma Termini. We passed one closed Curry Source before arriving at Via Errico Petrella. Here we found three Curry Houses adjacent to each other sharing the same address, that is how it can be in Europe.
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Tajmahal Ristorante (Via Errico Petrella, 19, 20124 Milano MI Lombardia Italia) would be the chosen venue. Ristorante Bangladesh Jal Khabar next door did have a Fish Curry, next to this was the closed Punjab Restaurant. The Taj Mahal was busy, surely a good sign? I should refer to it from now on only as Tajmahal Ristorante as there is another restaurant called Taj Mahal in Milano.
We took the only available table which was near the counter. There was no Menu, the Chap who served pointed to the wall. I had already formed the Order in my mind as I took my seat. Lamb Curry on paper plates was sitting on top of the counter waiting to be collected. The Masala was decidedly Shorva-esque, no matter, it looked worthy. Lamb Carry (€5.00) and Speciale Fried Riso (€4.00) was conveyed to the Young Waiter who had next to no English. I showed him the photo of Capsicum on this very Website, this he understood as I waved my hand over the screen.
No like – he said.
Marg had Coffee and Cake in mind, she elected to spectate.
I had time to count the number of available seats, forty were seen, most were occupied. Plates with Naan were taken to other Diners, €1.00 each Marg was able to tell me. As with those seen yesterday in Brescia, a good size though they did appear to go Crispy after a while. Tajmahal was full of Asians presumably on their Lunch break. We were Euro-Tourists, the only ones.
Two plates of Salad were placed on the table, for a moment I thought, oh no, he’s bringing us two portions of each. One Lamb Carry and one plate of Interesting – Speciale Fried Riso followed. Sorted.
Marg had no problem facing up to the quite Impressive Salad which had copious Cucumber Strips, Lettuce, traces of Red Cabbage and a whole Green Chilli. Suddenly one Salad had two Chillies and the other none. Marg took some of the Rice, there was plenty. The Rice contained Egg which had a red hue, it had been cooked in Chilli Powder. As we both discovered, this gave the Rice a decent – Kick. Peas and Onion were in there too, Marg kept coming back for more Rice taking it from my plate as I ate.
It was logical to decant the Lamb on top of the Rice. This was an Outstanding Portion of Curry for €5.00. The Meat was well into double figures, a large piece of Bone made me take further note, two more small pieces of bone were spotted. Hector had – Lamb Carry on-the-bone!
There are times when – Shorva – is not dismissive terminology. There is no denying that the Masala was Thin, however, as the photo shows, this was very much Meat with Masala. The classic Indian Shorva was Minimal and soaked quickly into the Rice.
No way could this Curry equal yesterday’s. It didn’t. Still, the Meat had been cooked on-the-bone in the Masala, The Flavours impressed, a feat that could not have been achieved without the correct level of Seasoning. I took a bite off the end of a Green Chilli, that upped the Spice Level considerably. The Rice was indeed – Speciale, the Vegetables and the Salad added welcomed Diversity. I ate on with Marg nabbing more Rice, so much for spectating.
I do not believe I would have availed myself of this Quality of Curry in a Mainstream Milanese Curry House.
The Bill
€10.00. (£8.93) The Salad cost €0.50 each. Saving on Lunch means we would balk less at the price of our evening meal.
The Aftermath
Another Young Chap had manned the counter throughout our visit, I was determined to give him a Calling Card. On showing him the Curry-Heute Website he summoned a nearby customer to aid with translation. His English was next to non-existent also. I gave my Spiel, this poor Chap did not want to hold the Calling Card and kept giving it back to me. In the end I placed it on the counter.
Curry-Heute now has some coverage of Milano.
For once in Milano the walk to the nearest Metro Station, Caiazzo, was only five minutes.