With an additional three city centre Curry Houses to choose from since my last visit to Wroclaw two years ago, there was hope that one might be decent. The Wroclaw Curry Scene is evidently developing, yet none of the venues visited to date have been particularly impressive. The Curry-Heute coverage of the Polish Curry has become extensive. Today marks the 50th Curry in Polska, only the UK and Deutschland have more coverage.
The Curry of India (Novownicza 37, 50-147 Wroclaw, Polska) is the newest addition, having opened in the last month. Ricky and I agreed yesterday at the Wroclawski Festiwal Dobrego Piwa to give this new business our custom. Hector arranged to meet up with The Man from Bradford et al at Targova at noon, in time for an early afternoon Curry. Ricky was accompanied by Ian, Paul, Vanessa, and Doug. Doug was not up for Curry-Heute.
The Curry of India is only a couple of blocks from Targova in a residential area. Given how easy it is to find places these days, one may conclude that a High Street locus is no longer necessary. If people wish to eat a particular style of food the array of venues is at one’s fingertips, and hopefully Bloggers can facilitate the final choice.
Howard was sitting outside The Curry of India as we arrived at a very punctual 12.30. Two young ladies were sat at the far end of the main dining room, I checked through the back, six of us would be better accommodated by moving tables in the main room.
Menus were provided, a Sunday Special Menu was accompanied by the Main Menu. Each Main Dish would be accompanied by Rice and a Drink for around a Fiver (Sterling). Either this was going to be a restaurant providing excellent value, or very small portions. The merits or otherwise of laying out the Menu in this manner should evolve in this write-up. More complex Rice Dishes were available separately, but why would one order say Jeera Rice (Zl 7.00) if one was already getting Plain Rice? Having got our heads around the Menu, Hector began the task of recording the Order. It was agreed we would have Starters, Vanessa and Paul would share two Dishes, Poppadoms were mooted.
Hector’s choices: Veg Pakora (Zl 10.00) followed by Fish Curry and Mango Lassi (Zl 25.00). Howard opted for the same plus a Naan (Zl 5.00). For Ricky, Chicken Pakora (Zl 12.00) then Palak Lamb and a Mango Lassi (Zl 25.00). Paul and Vanessa ordered Papadum (Zl 5.00) twice, plus Prawn Curry, Palak Lamb, Mango Lassi, plus a Veg Pakora to share. Again it was Zl 25.00 for the Mains, Rice and the Drink. Ian would add diversity to the Order: Paneer Pakora (Zl 12.00) plus Daal Tarka accompanied by Salt Lassi (Zl 15.00). Somewhere another Naan was added and Ricky asked for his Curry to be – Hot. The Menu offered choices of Mild, Mild Plus, Medium or Hot. The Waitress suggested she that brought some Chilli Sauce so that we could adjust the Spice Level to suit ourselves.
No sooner had all this been ordered when in walked Steve. We had to rearrange the furniture to fit him in. I now had a new perspective and noticed that the two Ladies received their Starters and Mains simultaneously. This would not have gone down well with us. The Menu setup was explained to Steve. Steve chose Samosa (Zl 10.00) and Lamb Curry with a Lemonade (Zl 25.00).
The Drinks arrived, my second glass of Mango Lassi on this trip. I think its fair to say that we are paying way too much for Lassi in the UK based on how freely it has been given at both Sadhu (Berlin) and here.
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Ricky remarked upon the simple décor and expressed the theory that posh venues don’t serve the Best Curry. Curry-Heute has provided much evidence of this. The Waitress brought a tray with the Starters, Hector was immediately impressed. Too often in Europe, one is served pieces of assorted sliced Vegetables cooked in batter, not proper Pakora.
Veg Pakora
Here was freshly prepared Pakora, not the double deep fried, almost uniform pieces served in the UK. These were irregular in shape which is how it comes out when I make it. I bit into one of the ample pieces – Wow! This had Spice and Seasoning. Potatoes and Peas were clearly visible, and traces of something – Red. Had Capsicum sneaked into Hector’s diet once again? Howard came to the rescue and assured me later that it was Carrot. I was happy to agree. Paul and Vanessa missed Salad and Raita as an accompaniment. Raita (Zl 5.00) is on the Menu, so those who particularly enjoy this, take note.
This Pakora was quite simply Wonderful, easily the best Pakora I have ever been served in Continental Europe.
Chicken Pakora
The portion again impressed. I’ll highlight the price again, just over two Pounds. Ricky tore in to his Chicken Pakora as the fingers and fork show, patience, Dear Chap. One’s food always tastes better after Hector has photographed it!
Excellent – remarked Ricky which is quite a step up from his usual – that were alright.
Paneer Pakora
Ian was at the far end of the table. He assured me his Cheese Pakora was – OK.
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Samosa
A pair, – Yay! A solitary Samosa always looks miserable. These were a good size and were well stuffed. As expected, these were Vegetable Samosas, filled with Potatoes and Peas. Steve observed that they could have been heated more thoroughly, the outside was hot, the inside not.
Papadum
We received two baskets of Poppadoms. Those who took them appreciated that the Cumin Seeds added more Flavour than their UK counterparts.
A Curry-Heute Adage:
When the Starters are outstanding, the Curry usually disappoints.
New plates and cutlery were brought for the Mains. The Waitress then started to arrange the Rice around the table. The Plain Basmati was served in sensible portions, not the excess which prevails across Europe.
Lamb Curry
When I saw this, the heart sank. The Sauce looked very thin and was not a colour I associate with Curry. Somehow in the excitement, a photo was omitted. However, there was a photo of Lamb Curry on the display board outside, and this Curry looked nothing like that one. The illustrated Lamb Curry looked very worthy. Had I ordered the Lamb Curry and been given what Steve received, I would be shooting from the hip.
Steve assured me that it tasted OK, the Lamb was suitably Tender, but he could have done with more Meat.
Fish Curry
The ratio of Masala to Fish was such that this Curry needed the Rice, Bread would have been messy. How Howard could eat this and a Naan beats me. This was a sizeable plateful sitting before me.
The Powerful Flavour from the Fish hit the palate, this was a Fish Curry to savour. The Menu identifies the Fish as Cod. The other listed ingredients were reassuringly familiar. I put it again to the Chef at Kwiat Peonii (Poznan) that this is what should be in a Curry.
Many a Fish Curry has been reviewed where the Flavour of the Fish has not emerged, this Curry was right up Hector’s street, the required Seasoning was present. Howard too remarked positively on the Flavour from the Fish but was less inclined to celebrate this Fish Curry. As has happened over the years, the Fish Curry I have extolled the joys of has not necessarily been to his liking, Indian Mango (München) excepted.
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The Spice Level was moderate, cue the Red Chilli Sauce. Ricky insisted I add it, the smallest Soupçon was taken. I watched others stir it into their Masala, Hector has met this actor before. A trace was enough to transform the Spice Level, once the heat on the palate is turned up, there is no going back. Why is putting a small pot of Chilli on the table not de rigeur?
Prawn Curry
This appeared to have the same Masala as the Fish Curry, but apparently not. Vanessa told me that the Masala had a – lemony flavour. She also suggested that Fresh Coriander would have enhanced the Curry.
I have written recently about Prawn Curry and so shall say no more.
Daal Tarka
This Daal had visibly large Lentils, where were the Onions, the Tarka? Ordering this as a Side Dish could be tempting, however, with the Menu set up as it is, how does one avoid more Rice? I would say the same for the Mix Veg Curry, whose photo on the display board outside, impressed.
Ian’s verdict on the Daal Tarka – Spicy, but it needed the extra Chilli.
Palak Lamb
This was the winner as determined by the three who got to taste it. For once, Hector was diffident, and none was sampled. The dark Masala, with some Yoghurt/Cream stirred in, was reminiscent of a Daal Makhani. This was not a mass of Herbs without a proper Masala. A lack of Lamb was the universal cry, one may consider ordering a double portion at these prices, but with the Menu as it is, how?
Ricky began with his customary – this is alright, and graduated to – the base Lamb was excellent, it needed the extra hit. Vanessa went as far as comparing this Lamb Curry favourably to that which is served in Bradford. Back to Ricky:
That was most enjoyable, the Naan were (sic) sensibly priced, just needed a Raita and Salad to start.
The Bill
Zl 252.00 (£52.83) £7.48 per head!
The Aftermath
Whilst Ricky was assembling the cash, I went up to introduce myself to the Waitress. She had observed me taking photos of (nearly) everything.
We are from India – she told me on seeing the photo of Marg and I at the Taj Mahal.
Punjab – she added.
Punjabi Cuisine is my favourite! Karahi Gosht!
The consensus is that we shall be back in Wroclaw for next year’s – Festival of Good Beer. Hopefully by then, The Curry of India will have sorted their Menu, I simply cannot see how the present system is sustainable. Two other venues will have to be visited also: Indyjska Grill and the very aromatic New Delhi.
The Curry of India Menu
