I SAT down with a few former Gazette friends and colleagues for our annual end-of-year get together – this year at Colchester’s Maharani Indian restaurant.
Escaping the bustle of the busy city centre on a chilly evening, we were warmly welcomed into the well-presented, but rather small eaterie opposite the Three Wise Monkeys in High Street.
Our entire group opted for a traditional pint of draft Cobra lager and we got the festivities underway with the customary poppadoms (95p each) and an enjoyable chutney tray (£3.50), which set the tone for the dishes to come.
For starters I opted for the delicious, sizzling lamb chops (£6.95), which were marinated with spices and yoghurt and grilled in a clay oven.
My counterparts opted for an array of dishes, including a delightful vegetable samosa (£4.95), a grilled chicken tikka (£4.95), a delectable rava fish pakora (£6.45), which was deep fried and wonderfully crispy, and onion bhajis (£6.95).
For the main course, I chose a chicken bhuna (£11.45), with pilau rice (£3.95) and a keema naan (£3.95), along with an appealing side of Saag paneer, with spinach and Indian cottage cheese (£5.95) – a particular favourite.
The chicken bhuna was excellent, if not as hot as I would have liked, but it was the excellent presentation – in a copper serving dish – that really created a feeling of authenticity.
I was having the keema naan bread, which had the promise of a lamb mince stuffing, for the first time – but I was left rather disappointed after a solitary slice of lamb fell out of it, while sharing it with my counterpart.
My colleagues opted for bhari rogan (£12.95), a vegetable bhuna (£9.45) and Lahori gosht (£12.95), the highlight of which was the delectable Lahori gosht, which was perfectly moist and fairly hot.
Overall the food was excellent and had a real authentic feel, although most of table felt the dishes were not as hot as hoped for.
Despite this, the flavours were perfect and I found the Maharani to be one of the best Indian restaurants in Colchester, with a great ambience, good range of dishes and generous portions.
The service at Maharani was also exemplary and we enjoyed a joke or two with our waiting staff during the thoroughly enjoyable meal.
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