With the noon checkout from our hotel coinciding with the opening time of Haveli Restaurant (Carrer de Cabanes 32, 08004 Barcelona, España) there was time for Hector, Clive and Maggie to have Curry before heading to the airport. As with yesterday at Bhatti Kabana, I found Haveli by Googling – Pakistani Restaurant.
The Waiter appeared from the rear of the Restaurant when we entered. Other Diners and Mein Host would appear from this direction later, is there another door? We took our table mid room with the – Muriel – (sic) in full view. Maggie was greeted with – Darling – which did not go down well.
Black mark – Maggie said as she took her seat.
This was a much more Pukka venue than the two I have visited previously on this trip. There is an upstairs, I wondered if I would get to see it.
The Waiter brought the Menu and gave us plenty of time to study the contents. The usual suspects were there, I like that in Barcelona Curry Houses they separate Curry which is simply Meat & Masala from Meat & Vegetables.
Having read a fair bit of the Menu to Clive he was none the wiser as to what to have. Clive would follow my lead: Mutton Karahi (€9.50) with a Keema Naan (€3.00). Maggie considered the White Mutton Korma (€9.95) but accepted my judgement that this Curry is better served with Chicken. Did Hector just write this? Announcing her hunger a Starter was then mooted.
Maggie, can I refer you a well known and reliable Curry Website which gives in detail the number of times you have scoffed a Starter then been beaten immediately by the Main?
She saw sense; Clive also backed me up stating that we would get our Curry faster without waiting for a Starter.
Butter Chicken (€8.95) became Maggie’s choice, with Rice.
Rice, this presented a problem. The Menu had a page on Rice, Biryani, but no straightforward Pilau or Boiled. Was Rice inclusive as it mostly is in Deutschland? We would find out.
The Waiter took the Order, Lady first. Maggie set about negotiating her chosen Spice Level. Not too Spicy below Medium? A Portion of Rice was added without comment by the Waiter.
Three Butter Chicken? – asked the Waiter.
I put him right and added – Spicy – as an afterthought.
This caused a bit of concern initially.
We’re men, we can take it.
The Menu led me to believe I would secure a Large Bottle of Sparkling Water (€2.50). The same 250ml of Vichy Catalan I had at Tabaq and Bhatti Kabana was presented, I noted the price later, ouch. It’s only a Euro elsewhere. Summer is around the corner, Hector will be on his high horse again about the price of Sparkling Water in Restaurants in … I shall not disclose plans for this summer at the moment.
This was my Opperchancity to photograph the ground level dining area. The décor was imaginative, but not fussy. What did become a little bit annoying was the – Jolly Musak – which carried on, relentlessly. Not Jazz, not Pop, Euro-Jolly, for once I missed the screechy women singers.
The Waiter brought a bowl of Nibbles whilst we waited. Maggie was tempted, Clive and Hector were not.
The Curry arrived in metal pots with lids, this prolonged the level of suspense.
Butter Chicken
Maggie was immediately impressed by the consistency of the Masala in her Butter Chicken. She scooped some on to the serving spoon to show me. With Almonds visible this looked as good as one would get in a decent UK Restaurant. Hector was not for sampling this. I asked Maggie to verify the presence of Coconut, she did.
She arranged a Soupçon on top of the Rice she had decanted, a photo Opperchancity.
On cutting open the Chicken she revealed Red Food Dye, please, not needed.
Maggie was very impressed by her Curry, the Spice was exactly what she was looking for.
They gauged the Spice just right for me – she assured me, and the Waiter.
Good luck – is in my notes. Did the Waiter really say that as Clive and I embarked on the Mutton Karahi.
Keema Naan
What was this? This was not a Naan. Thin, under-fired, like an Italian Pizza, almost soggy. I managed to split one of the four quarters (!) open, wtf? The Meat was Light, Chicken! It was spread across like a paste, Chicken Donner came to mind. With Fresh Coriander embedded it was actually quite tasty, but not what I had in mind when I ordered a Keema Naan.
I think Haveli should reconsider their Naan.
Mutton Karahi
Removing the lid revealed what looked like Quality Curry. The Masala was seriously Thick, a delight. I couldn’t count the Meat. Due to the depth of the pot I could not see it all, there was enough. There were traces of a Vegetable which could have been Lentils, then I found four tiny pieces of the Dreaded Green Mush. These pieces of Capsicum were set aside. They were not in the Menu description which is why I had taken the chance of not asking for them to be withheld. My fourth Barcelona Curry and my first encounter with Peppers. It had been a good run. Then I found the pieces of Red Capsicum which I had initially mistaken for Tomato skin.
OK, this Mutton Karahi did not have – Big Wedges of Ballast – which is one criticism, but Capsicum does upset the balance of the Overall Flavour. Blended into the Masala then one does not know it’s there. The Overall Flavour of this Curry was a new experience, I am certain it would have been even better without the contaminant, rant over.
As referred to above, the Waiter had hovered as we started eating our Mains. He was worried about the Spice.
I’m worried about the Flavour – was my reply.
I have managed to secure Curry on four out of five days in Barcelona, today’s Curry was easily the best. This Curry had Spice and Flavour. The Seasoning was within acceptable parameters also.
Clive had a share of the Rice and managed to eat all of his Keema Naan. Three of the four pieces was enough for Hector. Clive made positive comments from the start, a comparison with his experience yesterday at Bhatti Kabana was inevitable:
Spices were – harmed – in the making of this Curry.
That was really rather good, I liked that – he said as he cleared his plate.
The Meat was lovely and tender, the level of fieriness was excellent.
Today we had three contented diners.
Our Waiter had stepped outside, it was Mein Host I dealt with thereafter.
The Bill
€42.50 (£36.96) It was at this point the price of the Rice and the 250ml Bottle of Sparkling Water was established: €4.50 and €2.50 respectively.
The Aftermath
I went up to the Bar to pay and present the Calling Card, Mein Host was instantly engaged. Haveli has only been operating for some five to six months he told me. They are doing well. I asked if I could go upstairs to take photos, and so was given the tour. The upstairs is quite impressive, spacious and well laid out. Haveli is indeed more Pukka than my usual haunts.
Menu Extracts
