The final Düsseldorf Curry in the Hector Bounces Back saga takes Hector to Suriya (Fürstenwall 200, 40215 Düsseldorf, Deutschland). For the third consecutive day, Kenny is the Co-Diner. He has seen the Merits of Substantial Food before the madness of the day.
The walk to Fürstenwall from Uerige was longer than anticipated, afterwards the walk back to the Hauptbahnhof felt appreciably shorter.
Open at lunchtime Monday to Friday, we found a group of Chaps just finishing their Curry as we entered. Seating around twenty at four tables this is quite a Bijou Curry Café. One Chap appeared to be doing everything, however we soon found his front of house colleague was involved in the matter of rebooting the fridge. Our Sparkling Water was tepid, but at €1.50 for 0.75l, who was complaining?
The Menu revealed a Lunchtime Menu for €5.00. The Main Courses were around Twice this, still good value potentially. We hadn’t seen the portions yet.
Our busy Chap took the order and then disappeared to make it so. I enquired if the Lamb Dahiwala could be served – Scharf. The description claimed the Lamb was Marinaded for twelve hours and that Yoghurt would be present. Hector has not had a Creamy Curry for some time. As ever, – Scharf, Trocken, Minmal Sosse – was the Instruction. Being nearer 14.00, it was felt the digestive system would cope with an Alu Paratha.
Kenny opted for Lamb Bangalori again with Alu Paratha. As is the norm in Europe, Rice is inclusive.
The wait was longer than one might have expected. The fixing of the fridge was a definite interruption to the proceedings.
The busy Chap brought the food. The metal bowls in which the Curry was presented were of the small variety, however the portion size would turn out to be adequate. There was sufficient Lamb, but the request for Minimal Sosse was lost in translation. At least the Masala was Thick and Interesting. Topped with Flaked Almonds, the Dahiwala was a well presented Dish.
Of the Accompaniments, there was more than enough Boiled Rice to share, The Alu Paratha was limp in appearance, no sign of a Flaky Texture, indeed – Greasy – was how Kenny noted it. The Paratha did have tremendous Flavour and the seasoning here more than complemented the Masala.
The Masala had a Puréed Onion Base, with the Yoghurt it was similar to a Spicy Korma, no bad thing on occasion and no Coconut. The Tender Lamb had a good Texture, not too Soft, not too Chewy.
There was a – Wee Kick and a Wee Tang, due to the Marinade one assumes. Not the Greatest Curry ever served to Hector but certainly enjoyable.
Kenny’s Bangalori appeared to have the same Masala as the Dahiwala. There was a Sweetness due to the presence of tinned Pineapple.
Adequate lunchtime tiffin – was Kenny’s conclusion. Definitely better than yesterdays lunchtime efforts in Duisburg.
The Bill
€25.80. A more realistic pricing system than previous Düsseldorf Curry Experiences.
The Aftermath
The Chap who should have been Our Host accepted the Calling Card. We had no discourse.
As our Trip, yesterday, to Websters (Duisburg) reached a conclusion we decided to return today. This was the inspiration for Hector to discover if there is a Duisburg Curry House. Punjabi Pfanne (Oststraße 137a, 47057 Duisburg , NRW, Deutschland) was the only one. A Punjabi Curry House!
Expectation levels were tentatively high. A Source of Punjabi Food and a Full Café-Restaurant. As I spotted the Half Plate of Rice, Half Curry, I deduced that people were here for the Lunchtime Menu at €5.00. This included a Soft Drink, potentially Great Value. The Menu featured – Punjabi Breakfast – hence the 10.00 opening time.
wever there was Minimal Flavour. Well Under-seasoned, Steve added Salt to his Chicken Karahi. For Hector this is – Verboten. Hector eats Curry as it comes, well almost.
For the Mittagsmenu – Mein Host explained.
A basket with two round Naans were then brought, not huge, but an ideal size for one. No way would Hector eat all of his. The Naans had been properly prepared, we heard the Slapping. They had risen sufficiently and had the appropriate Burnt Bits. A Tandoor.
One does not walk in to a Curry House – Forty Five Minutes – before closing time to be harassed by a Waiter saying – Half an Hour. Half an Hour. Half an Hour. Yes, this was the greeting on entering Taj Mahal, (Oststrasse 143, 40210, Düsseldorf, Deutschland) at 23.15. Nope, that was not – A Welcome.
The Paratha was served Quartered. (Why?) Flaky and well-stuffed, this had the required Texture. The Seasoning in the Paratha carried over to the Curry, again a good combination.
Overall, I cannot fault what I was given today. Fine Curry, well-presented, with sufficient Flavour, and not Soupy at all.
I had been offered Lamb Tikka but stuck with my normal Tender Lamb. The Dryness of The Lamb when eaten without the Masala was Impressive. Again every mouthful gave a Spicy Blast. The Chef clearly knows what he is doing. The Seasoning was Technically Unremarkable, as it was Perfekt. The Fresh Coriander was there, The Flavours. This was indeed Quality Curry.
Even before I had presented The Calling Card, Mein Host had asked that I tell all my Friends about this New Venue. When I showed him Curry-Heute he was into Overdrive. He was critical of Venues where they give Half a Plate of Rice with a Half Plate of Curry. Ironically, these are the Venues I referred to above with this Identical Menu Format. His nearby Neighbour may also have been in his mind.
Joginder explained that he is responsible for fund-raising for cancer patients in 
Normally the Masala in a Fish Curry takes Flavour from the Fish, today I was struggling to establish this. The Fish itself was served in a sufficiently sized portion. How many venues have I reported minimal Fish with excessive Masala? No problems here.
The Waiter brought me a Plain Naan. A very Plain Naan. I was having Naan after-all. Now I could taste the Masala. The situation was improving. The Naan was as authentic as anything served in the UK, a proper Tandoor must have been employed. Puffy, with enough burnt bits.
A single Gulab Jamun arrived. Probably part of the Lunchtime Menu. Again, appreciated.
Eight decent sized pieces of Tender Lamb. There was enough stiffness to the Meat to require a chew, this was spot on. I was already wondering if this was The Best Köln Curry which has been served to Hector. I was certainly planning a return visit, tomorrow, for the Fish. Curry at Brunchtime, the best was to set oneself up for the day on a Hector Trip.
Mein Host came across eventually. He pointed to my orange polo. He thought I was Dutch when I entered, is that what he spoke to me? We were now communicating in English. I had to to tell him how much I was enjoying the Curry.
The 
A Basket with Two Poppadoms was placed on the Plate Heater in the middle of the Table with Four Dips. One Poppadom had embedded Cumin Seeds a positive feature of Poppadoms in Europe. I concentrated on this one and ignored the other. Plain Chopped Onion was a bit, em Plain. The Mango was out the same Jar as everyone else’s as more than likely was the Lime Pickle. The Latter had Bite.
The Lamb was Tender and Sufficient in Quantity. There was no Kick from this Dish whatsoever and Seasoning had been totally forgotten about. In terms of the Lamb and Minimal Masala this Curry had the basis of something worthwhile. If One was a Regular here, or arrived having read this Blog, I’m sure they could Spice up the Dish and make it more impressive.
Hector had spotted The Chef that he had spent charming moments with back in 
The Jeera Aloo is on the verge of becoming The Most Sought After Side. Potatoes with Cumin and No Masala. With the Lamb, Rice, and Potato and no Masala to speak of, Hector had won the Proverbial Watch. This could be The Driest Curry that Curry-Heute has ever reported. Congratulations.
