Romani domi abierunt!
Google Maps show three Curry Houses called – Tandoori – in Cagliari. One assumes a chain, with three days left, I plan to verify if this is so.
Hector and Marg were the first customers of the day, entering Tandoori (Angioy) (Via Giovanni Maria Angioy, 25, 09124 Cagliari, Sardegna, Italia) at noon. Tandoori is conveniently located nearby our hotel – Italia, but then so was Namaste yesterday. It’s as if Hector chooses his sleeping quarters with Bier and Curry as the determining parameters.
Two young girls were manning the front of house, I deliberately do not use the term – Waitress. We took the table at the far end of the room, adjacent to the glass partition separating the Restaurant from the kitchen. A Chef was busy skewering Yoghurt covered Meat in preparation for cooking in the Tandoor.
The Menus were already on the table. There were three Lamb Curry options. Shai Korma (€9.00) was dismissed as being – Creamy. The description of the Jalfrezi (€9.00) mentioned the dreaded – peppers. This left Agnello (Lamb) Vindaloo (€9.00) served Spicy, or not. I was in the mood for Rice today, however, the Bread list did impress. Riso Limone e Cumino (€2.50) sounded irresistible.
Today Marg would have Pakoras di Verdura (€2.50). Two 500ml bottles of Acqua Frizzante (€1.00) would complete the Order.
We sat and took in the basic surroundings. Paper plates were pinned to the wall beside the door presumably with favourable comments written on them. No crockery or metal cutlery here then. Has – Recycling – not reach Cagliari? Surely it’s more environmentally friendly not have single use plastic/paper?
One of the girls summoned me to the counter. I was invited to place the Order. When I reached Sparkling Water, she pointed to the fridge in the corner. So, I’ll fetch it myself then? And help myself to the plastic cups from the pile on the counter? Oh, I’d better take two packets with the plastic cutlery and napkin inside also.
Moments later the girl came out of the kitchen to ask:
Spicy or very Spicy?
Spicy – I replied. There was no need to risk doing myself damage.
A display of Curry etc was slowly being assembled at the counter. The Vegetable Curry looked decent, i.e. not – Soupy. I was too early to see if this array would simply be scooped and served, or reheated in the kitchen.
Our food was conveyed from the kitchen and placed on the counter. The second girl summoned me to – come and get it. This I could not believe. Exactly what are these girls being paid for? I have written before that my heart sinks when I visit premises staffed by young girls, they tend to know nothing about the Fayre. Today was another nadir.
The Lemon and Cumin Rice arrived last. I was still standing having taken the rest to the table. Handing me the Rice directly was as close as I got to table service. The Limone e Cumino Rice was served in a paper soup plate. I then realised why another paper plate had been placed on the counter. I went back up to retrieve it. This was for decanting. Had they thought it through, the extra plate could have been avoided.
This was a decidedly large portion of Rice, enough to share if required.
Pakoras di Verdura
Five large pieces of Vegetable Pakora were accompanied by three microscopic Dips: something Creamy, Raita and Tamarind.
Salty – was Marg’s opening reaction.
It was our kind of Pakora with the Batter, and Onions in it. I liked the Creamy Dip – she added.
Agnello (Lamb) Vindaloo
No Potato, how can you have a Vindaloo without the – aloo? Instead, seven good sized pieces of Meat plus a tiddler sat in a Standard Masala.
As with the very impressive – Aloo Gobi – yesterday at Namaste, the Seasoning was the first element to register. This was very much at the top end of – The Erlangen Scale of Seasoning. Well Seasoned? This was beyond – brave, yet I found it very much to my taste. The Spice was also pitched at a level which suited the Hector palate, this was a Spicy Curry, there would really be no need to go beyond this unless one was having to prove a point. So far so good.
The first piece of Meat was Superbly Tender, the full Flavour of Lamb coming across. The next piece was less Tender, thereafter all was well. It was at this moment I wished I had ordered a Vegetable Side, but then I had expected – Potato – in the Vindaloo. Meat and Masala is not really enough, there was the Rice thankfully.
A Citrus Blast hit the palate, the Lemon Rice, no doubt the Cumin Seeds were working their magic also. I remarked to Marg that I have had much worse Curry than this served in Europe. This Curry was actually impressing. Spice, Seasoning and a Tang, this was not a Bland Curry.
The last piece of Meat would be savoured. Massive – is how Marg described it. I manoeuvred the Lamb on to the plastic fork and dispatched it down the hatch. Yes, I had enjoyed this Lamb Vindaloo very much, with Potato it would have been even better.
The Bill
€17.00 (£15.32) No tip was given, where was the service to earn it?
The Aftermath
The Calling Card was given, as if anyone cared.
Tutti i ristoranti Tandoori di Cagliari sono la stessa azienda? – I had prepared on the Huawei.
I was answered in English, and assured that each Tandoori Restaurant in Cagliari was different.
Different Menu, different t-shirts?
This was confirmed.
Tandoori Menu – extracts
Later, we passed through – Republicca – to take the Metro. Another – Tandoori – as Google have it was nearby. I had to check it out. Behold, Maharaja (Via Grazia Deledda, 23, 09127 Cagliari, Sardegna, Italia), however, the name may be different, but the Menu was identical.
I saw the Chef prepare the Tandoori Meat at Tandoori (Angioy), but where is the Curry actually cooked?
Maharaja Menu
