Tonight set a record for fastest three course dinner ever. From the time I left my house, drove 10 minutes to the restaurant, had my complete dinner and made the drive home, it clocked in at exactly one hour. India Curry House is one experienced, well-run, taste machine. From the outside, the restaurant is a very unassuming place - down a corridor, sandwiched between a hair salon and a coffee shop. The waft of incense is the first greeting inside the door, followed shortly thereafter by our friendly host. We shared the aquamarine hued restaurant with one other couple for our entire visit, with the full focus of the kitchen split between us four.
The Chef has a degree in Indian Cuisine, so we felt ourselves in capable hands. Specializing in East Indian cookery (“Food of the Moghuls”), the menu features numerous natural blends of spices in traditionally prepared dishes. We discussed our $15 Dine Around options with our server and within 1 minute, our Indian Kingfisher lager arrived. Within 2 minutes, we were munching on our first courses – Onion Bhajia for me and Mixed Vegetable Pakora for fellow. Both were small spheres of battered veg, deep fried and crispy, and served with syrupy tamarind/anise dipping sauce. Quite tasty, they were gobbled down quickly, and followed not long after by our mains. Diners are allowed to choose the heat level of their dishes – I opted for ‘mild' on my Mixed Vegetable Curry – a comforting bowl of 9 vegetables, with subtle, multilayered spice. Fellow upped the level to ‘medium' for his Chicken Vindaloo – tender chicken cooked with potatoes and fresh spices. Both dishes came with a large side of long grain rice, great for sopping up sauce and taming heat. Portions were generous and filling, so we were glad to see our desserts were small. We each were brought 2 rounds of Rasgula, or Indian milk balls – sort of a boiled cheese, flavoured with sugar and cardamom. The Rasgula, like all of their numerous products, are made in house.
By this time, we were the only people left in the restaurant, but able to eat no more after our $15 (!) Indian adventure, we headed out into the brisk night air. Hopefully more value-oriented Dine Arounders will give India Curry House a try.
Bon Appetit – The Secret Diner
102 – 506 Fort Street, Victoria, 250-361-9000
