October 13, 2010
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Kirk Douglas
After many months of threatening to finally make it to Saffron, Joanne calls me up yesterday and says she wants to go out for dinner, and then take a look at Wendels for wedding cookies. No chance of making it to see the German baker, as I didn't have his contact details on me, so we decided to meet at Yuanshan MRT and drive over to this Indian restaurant that many people are raving about.
Having a couple of projects on deadline though, I left the office a little later than planned, catching up some time and arriving just as Joanne got off the train. She hopped in the Nissan and we drove to get some gas where they were also doing a special promotion on windscreen wipers. Awesome as the ones I had were doing a quarter-assed job at best. With a full tank and a windscreen I could actually see through, we headed up to Tienmu, and found a parking space in the most perfect spot. We had to walk around the corner because despite saying it is on Tienmu East Road, it actually isn't. Find number 38, walk around to the back entrance, so to speak, and there it is. Right next to that crappy, service-free Spice Shop which will never be the beneficiary of my custom.
The door was opened by Jinny. First impression - NICE DECOR! It looks nice, very comfortable, not too bright, not too dark, good tables (perhaps a little too close together), but yes... I like.
"How many people? Only 2?"
Oh, I'm sorry Jinny - aren't we enough for you? You want me to head out and bring in 200 of my closest muckers? Be serious - greet your guests in a more friendly way than that, no matter how many people are there. Ok, a negative point already.
The manager (I assume) of the day, who was dressed in blue, was there too, and she was most friendly, helping us with the choices, making suggestions, but it was Jinny's bad attitude (she was also grumpy - don't take it out on me!) that I was not happy with. Forget that for the moment, let's get to the menu and food.
Blue manager brought us a papadom, well maybe 2/3 of a papadom, as a welcome, which was freshly toasted and crisp. Being hungry, I munch straight in to it.
Joanne, sitting opposite me, was not too hungry, and initially said I should order, and she will eat some of whatever I decide. Then she sees shrimp, and that's what she wants. No worries. Now I am in the mood to try things I can't find in Cafe India, so I go for some Patties (can't remember what they are called) and an Onion Bhaji, and then place the order for 2 main courses. But which ones should I have? There are 5 that I like the look of, whittle them down to 3, and then I am stalled...
The Khumb Masala sounds nice - I have not had a good mushroom curry for a long time... perhaps this is the one. But in the end I finally make my decision - Methi Palak, spinach with Fenugreek, and a Paneer dish, which is stuffed with mint sauce. To go with our meal we order a garlic naan, onion kulcha and a romaali rothi.
The patties arrive first - coming with a nice tamarind sauce. They needed it - because the tamarind sauce was the only thing giving them flavour. Joanne's shrimp arrive - covered and deep fried in a pakora chick pea batter. They are "just ok". Then the onion bhaji arrives - a little greasy, and perhaps cut too thinly, but not the worst onion bhaji in the world. Tasted very good with the mint sauce which is nicely set in the middle of the table - Rob of course spills a load all over the place, and laughs it off.
Having wolfed down the starters, Rob is ready for the main course. The paneer comes, with a nice fat wedge of lemon which I squeeze the juice out of, all over the cheese. It's not that fresh... but not too bad, and nestled on a crisp salad base. Nice flavours BUT way too dry. The breads are nowhere to be seen, and the Methi Palak comes several minutes later, by which time the paneer is cold. Joanne does not like, but I do - apart from the fact that it needs moisture or sauce.
The Methi Palak arrives, and this is the highlight of the meal. Stunning flavours, truly memorable dish. Ok, now I like. But still no breads. Come on guys - is it that difficult? Apparently it is. They bring the rothi, and that goes well with the Methi, not so much with the paneer, and then finally they bring the onion kulcha. Again, a little greasy, but plenty of onion on it, and a good flavour and texture.
But where the hell is the garlic naan? That's gone AWOL... the only thing Joanne ordered for main course, and they don't bring it. Hmmm...
So we're not the most impressed clientele Saffron will ever have. After we finish the meal, we get the bill and ask the guys to Da Bao - we're taking the leftovers home. Still no sign of that garlic naan, but it was also not on the bill, so they completely forgot (ignored) it when we ordered.
Pricey. I get the feeling that it is a good 15 to 20% more expensive than our friends at Cafe India. And apart from the non-English, non-Chinese speaking guy that Vinnie has recently employed to look after the flagship restaurant, I get good friendly service AND a chef who will make things for me that I ask for, whether or not they are on the menu, and if I have a complaint, Vinnie looks after it.
The level of service, the fact that Saffron forgot the garlic naan, the fact that the food really was not that good (except the Methi Palak which was exceptional) means that the first round of this epic fight goes to Cafe India.
But perhaps we should go back and give them a second chance to get things right. I want - after all - to try that Mushroom Masala!
So now you're wondering what the fook does Kirk Douglas have to do with a post about Indian Restaurants. Well, as Saffron and Cafe India were essentially competing against each other, they are Indian Fighters. The Indian Fighter was the name of a 1956 movie starring... yes... now you got it!
