Taj Mahal Indian Restaurant
3 Esplanade Lane, Douglas, Isle of Man, IM2 4LP
A pleasant Autumn Saturday afternoon treat for us Southsiders involves an afternoon in the Capital, followed by an early supper. We are both great fans of Indian cuisine and so, to date, have visited most Indian restaurants on our days out, but never the Taj Mahal. I suspect that this is because the location of this particular hidden gem does not lend itself to jogging the memory when one is deciding where to go.
Booking for 6.30, we also thought that we would just swan up to the door, have a quiet meal and fall back into the car for a smooth journey home. We were however somewhat hot and bothered when we did actually arrive, as firstly we could not find the location (just behind the Empress the man had said on the phone) and when we did find it, the parking was so limited that we ended up with a long walk. This did not set our evening off to a great start. The rest however is a triumph of service and food that made even, by now grumpy, husband feel that we had been missing out on, in our opinion, a worthy challenger in the vote for the best Indian Restaurant on the Island.
The art deco interior was spotless, welcoming, non-pretentious and we really enjoyed sitting in one of the little booths, where you could feel relaxed and private without also feeling isolated. The staff were charming and, despite being fully booked by the time we left, our particular waiter took time to talk to us as individuals. I was particularly impressed with the free Wi-Fi; thus a good spot for a business lunch. Low calorie suggestions make it good for a girls' night out, and the complimentary popadums, added to the fact that they don’t add service charge all gave an immediate impression that they were not trying to make profit above all else.
Having lived across in the North West for many years, we have eaten in many good and, sadly, bad Indian restaurants and when we eat with friends, by now non-grumpy and smiling husband is usually elected to choose for everyone. Rarely does he take suggestions from the waiter. Having spotted dishes that were obviously specialities of the house however, we decided to follow the waiter’s suggestion and ordered the weekly main course special house curry, a speciality of the Gujurat region we were helpfully told, plus a Xacuti, mild and creamy for the female palate.
Every dish was a delight. The Ingredients tasted fresh, the sauces complemented the food rather than dominated it, and even the simple house mixed starter tasted freshly made rather than defrosted, as is the case in many places. The stuffed vegetable Paratha was also delightfully fresh and tasty without being over filling.
Each dish was served on good quality matching and well proportioned trays and dishes so that once the table was filled with the inevitable vast array of portions, the food looked both inviting and of high quality. To top it all Cobra on draught was a welcome complement to the meal, although we did think a bit pricey at £3.80 a pint.
My vote for our next Indian meal will certainly take us to the Taj Mahal, but maybe next time we’ll arrive a bit earlier to find a closer parking space.!!!
Discerning
September 2011
The Bill
4 X 1/2 PTC 7.60
1 MIX STARTER 5.95
1 PRAWN PATIA PURI 5.50
1 SPECIAL 10.00
1 CHI XACUTI 10.95
1 PILAU RICE 2.65
1 CHAPATI 1.20
1 STUFFED PARATHA 2.90
TOTAL 46.75