Brisbane – Punjabi Palace : Authentic Indian Restaurant

Punjabi Palace (135 Melbourne St, South Brisbane QLD 4101 Australia), an – Authentic Indian Restaurant – unlike back home in Glasgow (Scotland) where the majority of our – Punjabi Curry Houses – are from across the border in Pakistan.

Day 3 in Brisbane and the rain has finally stopped. The downpour which greeted us on our arrival was worse than being in Glasgow. Frontal rain passes, Tropical rain kinda lingers.

We arrived at Punjabi Palace at 19.20, around twenty or so diners were in situ, this number would increase, dramatically. A popular venue on Brisbane’s – South Side. A lady was dealing with Takeaway customers at her pillbox-like counter mid room. She indicated we could sit at a wall table.

Having had a substantial lunch, care would be taken not to over order. Definitely no Starters. The menu was standard, mostly the same Dishes as one finds in any British Indian Restaurant, but no Karahi. One Curry stood out: Goat Curry (A$24.95), Meat on-the-bone, it had to be. Beneath this on the menu was Mutton Keema Curry (A$24.95) with a choice of – Lamb, Goat or Beef. Marg could not resist her usual Keema, Lamb – seemed logical.

Wary of Soupy Curry, better to order Rice: Jeera Rice (A$6.00). The menu made it clear that a Rice portion would do two servings. For this I compliment them, but what happens to the solo diner? Still, Rice for two at a sensible price.

Marg mentioned Roti (S$4.95). The Hector was keen to see their Naan (A$4.95) which, at the same price, was surely better value?

A jug of chilled Tap Water had already been brought to the table, Hector would have his Sparkling Water (S$4.20).

The menu also makes it clear that – all meals are prepared mild, medium, or hot.

Marg asked for – medium – I asked for – medium plus. I don’t know if our waitress’ pad could cope with this. Time would tell.

Other information on the menu:

Punjabi Palace is open daily from 17.00 until late. Late in Brisbane appears to be around 22.00. Marg had spotted the section on – Flavour. Oh, dear, someone has confused/mixed – Flavour – and – Taste. As a food Blogger one has to be careful.  And where was – Umami?  Cinnamon, for example, is a Spice which has a recognisable – Flavour – but is not necessarily a – Taste – as such.  

But it tastes of Cinnamon! – ah well, so it goes.

Facing the back wall, I could see a raised area where drinks were stored. Marg spotted people coming in with bottles of wine, I hadn’t paid much attention to that part of the menu but surely they serve wine here? Photographic coverage of the interior is sadly minimal, the place was too busy. Punjabi Palace is definitely a restaurant, unlike yesterday’s Punjabi Rasoi, a Curry Cafe.

The food arrived after a respectable wait. We each took enough Rice, some would remain. Yellow Basmati with Cumin and micro pieces of Onion, enough Diversity, hopefully.

The Naan, if indeed it was one, was served in quarters. Thin, unleavened, no blisters, no puffiness, no pleasure. This was a shocker.

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Goat Curry

A dozen or so, quite large pieces of Meat sat in a viscous Masala. A Herb, Coriander presumably, had been mixed through the light brown Masala. Appearance wise, there was a hint of Yoghurt.

Once arranged on top of the Rice, I added a bit more Masala and as ever, retained some for later. The first dip of Bread in the Masala revealed – Seasoning! Salt – to confirm one of the defined – tastes. The Hector was impressed already.

Punjabi Rasoi was well short in this crucial element of a Curry yesterday.

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Initially I felt no Spice sensation, after a few minutes this grew. Medium – is all that was attained, enough to know this was – Curry. The food could have been much warmer.

The Meat both impressed and disappointed. This was the tenderest of Goat, a superb Texture. However, there was a disassociation, no evidence that the Goat had been in the company of the Masala for long, it was not giving – Spice – back. The benefit of having Goat on-the-bone may therefore have been lost. It was still good fun gnawing at the required moments. I would have expected Goat to have a more powerful Flavour than Lamb, I was not aware of this.

There was a slight – Sweetness – coming from somewhere, the Onions, possibly. That I was aware of this and not any particular Spice was a matter of some concern. With no Whole Spices in the Masala, there was nothing specific to identify. The Cumin Seeds therefore in the Rice proved to be a worthy accompaniment.

This was an enjoyable but decidedly – Mainstream Curry – experience. In a restaurant, one can hope for more, but the Curry Cafe is where the Hector is more at home.

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Mutton Keema Curry

This was a remarkably – wet – Keema. Minimal, if any Masala, defines this Dish. The consistency of the Masala proved to be contentious. On decanting, Marg produced big pieces of Boneless Lamb. What was happening?

The menu states: Traditional slow cooked dish with mince and your choice of meat (available with lamb, goat, or beef). I had not read this part of the menu, it was Marg’s choice. I suspect Marg had understood – and – as – in.

The Masala here was visibly darker than the Goat Curry. I asked Marg if there was – Keema – in her Masala, she was unsure.

At the time of writing she would  concede – there was.

With more Meat on her plate than she could handle, a piece of Lamb crossed the table. This was superb, super-soft Meat, and here there was the pronounced sense of the Meat giving back. Marg’s verdict at the end of the meal:

Very tender pieces of lamb in a thick sauce, but no hint of minced lamb as expected. Plenty flavour, and a filling dish with the rice. The Naan was flat, not puffy, it was OK. I’m full.

There was still room for Tea (AS4.50).

A milky Tea was provided, it took a while so the next phase was sorted.

The Bill

A$69.55 (£35.85)   Cheaper than our lunch, so good value.

The Aftermath

The Calling Card was received by the waitress who had directed us on arrival.

There was a discussion as to why the Keema had pieces of Meat, and was not as expected. This was going round in circles. The Keema at Punjabi Palace having added pieces of Meat is the now clear explanation, but at the time we were talking at cross purposes.

As we departed, I saw the Curry at the next table, it was clearly – Keema – as we know it. I give in. 

2024 Menu extracts