Food reviews

Dalchini

Above: Dalchini

Chicken tikka masala may be the UK's most ordered Indian cuisine – but have you ever wondered what the people in India eat when they’re dining out? Veronica Sherkl, owner of Dalchini, the Hakka Chinese restaurant on Arthur Road,tells us that Chinese cuisine, when prepared in an Indian fashion, is the preferred choice of food for Indian locals when they go out to eat. Dalchini is the Indian word for “cassia bark,” the kind of cinnamon widely used in Indian cooking, which is an indication of what you can expect when you visit – Chinese with the kick of Indian sums up the choice at Dalchini well.

The menu boasts an array of dishes, with an extensive vegetarian section as well as seafood, chicken and duck and lamb. Honouring the religious restraints in India you won’t find pork or beef on the menu, but trust me you won’t miss it. The restaurant was pleasantly filled with locals – families and couples on first name terms with the friendly waiters. William, our trusty waiter, was working his last weekend at Dalchini after six years of service. Many of the diners around us on this Saturday night had come in especially to say goodbye.

The crispy lamb in Szechuan Ginger Sauce to start was perfectly complemented by the Chilli Garlic Potatoes, as recommended to us by William. An incredible combination of spicy, soft (the potatoes, cut in the shape of chips, tasted almost caramelised) and crunchy lamb that melts in the mouth. Stir fried garlic prawns in a sweet and tangy garlic sauce, advertised as the chef’s best dish, lived up to its reputation and the Manchurian Chicken tossed in soy sauce flavoured with garlic, onions and green chilli was subtly spicy and incredibly tasty.

To finish we opted for cinnamon ice cream (Dalchini’s namesake) and a cup of coffee.

Lorraine Crighton-Smith