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Gurkha Kitchen, Canute Road, Southampton
3:04pm Wednesday 4th June 2008
IT WAS clear from the outset that we were in for a treat.
Opened at the beginning of the year, Gurkha Kitchen is set away from the plethora of curry houses in Southampton's Oxford Street.
But then diners seek it out because it's not really a curry house, there aren't any kormas or vindaloos, for instance. It's likely you won't have heard of many of the dishes, which makes for an interesting task when choosing.
The best way to find out is to ask the incredibly polite and helpful staff.
Nepalese food is all about subtle flavours. Everything is fresh and fragrant - there's a slight crossover with Thai cuisine, such as the spicy prawn crackers served as an appetiser yet accompanied with a lightly-spiced mango sauce plus an interesting tomato and coriander puree.
Noodles, coconut and cashew nuts also make appearances on the menu.
To start we tried Nakasee - skewered strips of chicken drizzled in a spicy sauce.
It was similar to chicken satay but less peanutty and more aromatic.
We chose Piro lamb and Tama chicken as our mains served with fluffy, steamed rice. Tender pieces of lamb were served in a dark onion, ginger, pepper and chilli sauce and the chicken in a thick hot tomato and chilli sauce, which was not in the least heavy or overpowering.
Side dishes included the Nepalese speciality of daal (wholesome lentils) and Gurkha aloo - a take on Indian-style potatoes, except the potatoes were roasted simply in a little oil and delicately seasoned with cumin seeds - which were fantastic!
Portions were not huge but sufficient and allowed us to identify individual flavours at work.
Inside the restaurant, the contemporary stainless steel bar and bare brickwork inherited from its predecessor Rimjihm make an impression, but now homely paintings of the Himalayas and family-style portraits adorn the walls, exotic plants trail the balcony while atmospheric lighting and soft music provide individuality.
Our table was tucked away in a quiet corner though fears of being forgotten were quickly allayed.
The service was impeccable and made a really enjoyable evening complete.
Our bill came to a reasonable £38 including drinks. For a unique and authentic dining experience this would be hard to beat.
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J, Soton says...
3:24pm Fri 20 Jun 08
The menu is extensive and well set out with clear descriptions but if you have any problems the staff are more than happy to help.
Fantastic Nepalese beer on offer, freshly cooked food that you can tell has taken real time and thought to prepare.
The duck I had was simply incredible. Prices are reasonable and the decor is great, being downstairs it's away from the hustle and bustle of Canute Road.
Definately worth a visit if you want something a bit different and a smart night out.