The five venues reviewed on this trip have featured previously in Curry-Heute. After all, visits to mainland Europe are limited, and one has to ensure all is well at known places. A return to any venue is always a positive.
Today, a Pakistani Buffet restaurant in the heart of Antwerpen, well near enough. Nawaab (Quellinstraat 16, 2018 Antwerpen, België) is open all day, and has a scale of prices for daytime (€15.90), evenings (€20.00) and official holidays (€23.90). As the young lady talked me through the Buffet, there was the feeling that I had paid the evening price, the extra Dishes would have come.
Arriving at Nawaab at 14.45, it was not that long before the changeover to the evening session. It was just the waitress and Hector, although clearly someone was in the kitchen as throughout my stay, the tureens were being regularly topped up. But for whom?
Not every Buffet is like the Salad Bar at Pizza Hut, one hopes. Still, the customer cannot tell how long the food has been on display, how many times it has been reheated, and how many of the unwashed have stuck their fingers in it.
My flight home is in two days, time enough to recover from any adverse condition, not that Indo/Pak food ever affects me in that way, unlike a Pizza Hut – Salad Bar which guarantees a disrupted sleep, and a series of short walks.
The only menu I was offered was for drinks. So Buffet or nothing. I ordered a litre bottle of Sparkling Water (€6.75).
There was no Bread in the tureen when I started my trawl, a pity, because freshly made Naan arrived soon after I had committed to Vegetable Rice. No Lamb Curry until the evening, I was advised, unless … and no Kofta which was a feature of their publicity seen afore.
Starters
Hector, why? I have long established that one cannot do a Curry justice by overloading on Starters. But there was Seekh Kebab, albeit the Chicken variety. And no way had the Vegetable Pakora come from the Cumbernauld (Scotland) factory, one assumed.
The Samosa did not tempt.
I looked at the Salad Bar, none of the Dips were labelled. Avoiding mayonnaise became the priority, lets risk the Mint content of the Raita, and who could resist Pickled Chillies?
Seekh Kebab
Peely-wally, whilst the Spice built, they were way too dry. Cue the Raita and a bite of Chilli.
Vegetable Pakora
These appeared to have been made in house, there was no sign of double frying.
With a thick batter covering, too much Gram Flour, it was difficult to ascertain which Vegetables were present.
The camera was no help here either.
Still, with a decent Spice Level, it was good to have something resembling Scottish Pakora in a European setting.
*
*
The Musak
This was relentless. Accordion-based, all too cheery, it came over as one tune in a loop. Rote Erde (Irmin Schmidt) this was not.
Having used a side plate for my Starters, I looked for dinner plates. Nope, I see.
In the spirit of the Manchester Curry Cafes, I limited my mains to – Rice & Three.
What I took to be Vegetable Rice was chosen over Plain Basmati and Chicken Pulao. There was then the chance of an Interesting Vegetable. I appear to have missed out, but there was a sufficiency of Flavour from the Rice itself. Do note the relative proportion of Rice to Curry.
Saag/Palak
The Hector has not had Spinach on this trip, this was not to be missed. Thin, Soupy, sauce-like, this was very much in the Deutsche style of – Gemüse. And why ordering any Saag/Palak Curry in Mainland Europe is risky, usually too Creamy also. This Spinach had an air of gravitas, and when taken with some Rice, proved to be rewarding in terms of Flavour.
Mixed Veggies
One could never anticipate a – wow! – moment at a Buffet. After all, everything has to be pitched for middle-of-the-road palates.
The Potatoes were a – wow! – and a – gosh! – moment, big Flavours bursting out. Add these to the Cauliflower, even better, and the Seasoning was was also hitting the palate with a degree of aggression.
Chana, the Chickpeas aside, the lighting was too dim to make out out the source of the grittiness in the Masala Mash. This was a glorious creation, a perfect complement to any Meat Curry.
Beef Qorma
The Thick, blended Masala again looked the part. However, there was no Citrus aroma being emitted, no Citrus Flavour, hence no sense of this being a Desi Qorma.
The Meat tasted decidedly – Beefy. One expects Meat to absorb the Flavours from the Masala, little sign of that here. Well cooked Beef, the strange thought of the Meat absorbing its own Beefy Flavour back from the Masala was an unlikely consideration.
Medium Spice, the Seasoning here was also spot on. As a stand alone Curry, this would have been enjoyed regardless of its dubious moniker. With the Mixed Vegetable backup, a worthy meal.
I would certainly return to Nawaab, especially for an evening session when presumably both Lamb Curry and Kofta should be available.
For Hector, this marked the end of the meal, however, more was a possibility. Ice Cream and Rice Pudding were offered as part of the Buffet. Graciously declined, I advised the waitress that I like to finish on a savoury note. I stopped myself delivering the oft quoted:
If I had room for Dessert, I’d have more Curry.
The Bill
€22.65 (£19.41)
The Aftermath
The Calling Card was presented, the waitress’ patience was commendable, but then, who else was there to talk to?
I forgot to ask if a la carte was ever available.
My last meal in Antwerpen was this year at Le Royal café (Antwerpen Centraal) where I challenged the size of The Bill relative to the portion size. No such issue today.
Later, the stray Cumin Seed dislodged itself, the first post meal blast of liquorice this trip.