Mela (Crellestrasse 46,10827 Berlin Deutschland) is the seventeenth Berlin Curry House reviewed in Curry-Heute. Seventeen, the number won by Marg in her World Cup Hockey tournament. All was going well in South Africa, Scotland O55s reaching the final. They lost – 0v1 – yesterday to the Auld Enemy, so it goes.
Hector and Steve are having a few days in Berlin, possibly the best served destination from Glasgow Airport presently. When asked by the Border Police why I was here – Essen und Trinken – was my reply. Coffee Houses will not be part of this trip.
Mela was recommend by a taxi driver when I passed through Berlin a couple of weeks ago en route to Polska. A photo posted by Ranjith on another medium showed a worthy Lamb Masala. This is what I showed the waiter when we arrived at Mela at 14.15. Mutton Masalah (€16.90) was confirmed – ohne Paprika – which certainly did not feature in Ranjith’s photo. Rice was included in the price of the Curry as is the Euro norm.
0.4l glasses of Bottled Water (€3.50), sparkling of course, completed the Order.
Mela is located in Schöneberg in the south west of Berlin, not an area I have visited before. The S1 took us here efficiently from Nordbahnhof, we alighted at Julius-Leber Brücke.
Complimentary Poppadoms and Dips were presented. The waiter warned that the Green pot was – zehr Scharf. Indeed it was. The Poppadoms had embedded Cumin Seeds and possibly Peppercorns, tasty. Why is this not the norm in the UK?
Dinner plates were brought, featuring a Modest Salad, plus the pot of Basmati. Between us, we managed about half of the Rice provided. What happens to the mountain of leftover Rice in European Curry Houses?
Mutton Masalah
On no, here we go again. What on Earth was this? The Masala was minimal, a positive. But this was not Curry, it was a classic exampleof what passes for Karahi in many, European in particular, Indian Restaurants. Behold the Big Onions, some cooked, some less so. Was Rice the correct accompaniment?
The Tender Mutton was plentiful, initially giving more than just the Flavour of Meat but stopping short of the ubiquitous – Euro Curry Taste. In time, the Meat as a source of Flavour, dried up. There was next to no Spice coming from the Mutton. The Seasoning in what little Masala was present was fine. Both Steve and Hector added some of the Green Mash to give the – Curry – a boost. Whatever Flavour the Masala was able to give was eroded by the dominance of the Big Onions. Too many Onions. This was not a Curry, this was – Stir Fry.
Don’t judge a book by its cover – remarked Steve as he ate. Later he added:
It was more of a stir fry, no garlic coming through, no spice, saved by the condiments. Too many uncooked onions. The rice was OK.
As the waiter cleared the table I told him – too many Onions. On showing the trusty Oppo – this is my seventeenth Curry House in Berlin.
The phone rang, our conversation was interrupted.
The Bill
€40.80 (£35.79) Standard prices.
The Aftermath
I started again. On mentioning – Desi/Apna – there was no response, I suppose he was hardly going to admit there was better to be had elsewhere. Somewhere in Berlin is, hopefully, the food I seek, else I am facing years of disappointment.
I’ll give the card to the boss – concluded our exchange.