A night out at one of Canberra’s top twenty restaurants
My frequent dinner partner, Jane and I met one evening for a drink before dinner. I had done my usual and walked into the city to meet her at a local bar/pub. It was raining all the way into the city but I took an umbrella and must say did enjoy the hour-long walk. I had been to this bar before with a group of friends where we sat upstairs, but this time we met downstairs just for a glass of wine before walking to the restaurant to meet another friend from interstate.
Bentspoke is a pretty funky bar with options to sit outside with a heater (as it was the middle of winter) or inside..we chose inside.
After finishing our drink, we walked over to the restaurant and met our friend Peter. The restaurant I chose was a new Indian in the local restaurant area. At Darbar Indian our table was reserved with a small blackboard with my name on it…rather sweet. But unfortunately within five minutes a large family group arrived; the size of the group is not the problem; it was the parents allowing their two children to run around and scream [a lot]. We were the only two tables in the restaurant and with parents not controlling their children it was pretty annoying.
There was plenty of dishes to order from the menu.
I ordered the masala dosai for entree after asking Jane and Peter if they would share with me as the waitress told me it was a pretty big serve. The dosai is a thin, crisp golden brown rice pancake rolled with spiced potato masala and served with coconut chutney and sambar. It tasted good albeit a little bit spicy.
Peter ordered the chicken chat pat an aged chicken marinated in spices, lemon juice and deep fried. It’s then tossed with curry leaf and fenugreek powder and coriander. It’s served with a lemon wedge and spanish onion.
Jane ordered the chef’s specialty which was called Jal Pari Hariyali – a marinated Tasmanian salmon fillet with tumeric,cashew paste, cumin and coriander powder with lemon juice and pan friend.
For my main dish I ordered the malia kofta; dumplings made from potato and cheese and tossed in a combination of curry leaves and mustard seeds then simmered in a Moghhlai gravy. This is a dish I always order at Indian restaurants. It was nice but not the best I had ever had. I am not too sure why it wasn’t that delicious, I think it was the sauce – not as creamy as others.
Peter ordered the chicken tikka dish to share with Jane. It was boneless chicken cubes that have been marinated in yoghurt, spices and smoke roasted. Pretty good they both said.
Jane ordered a goat curry for main course, again to share with Peter. It came diced and stewed in a medium spice and flavoured with onion, fenugreek seeds and fresh curry leaves. They both liked this dish too. 
Great company but a little spoilt by screaming children…probably won’t go back.
Whilst in Abu Dhabi on our stopover back to Australia from the UK, my brother, nephew and I stayed two nights at the Intercontinental Hotel. A lovely hotel with its own beach but with the temperature being around 45 degrees celsius it was way too hot for me to go there for any longer than a short look. I preferred sitting in the lobby with the beautiful orchids and the air-conditioning.
And then when we entered the restaurant which was dimly lit and very lovely…
along with beautiful views over the river and the Grand Mosque in the distance…
Our entree was some beautiful tasting naan and a serve of pumpkin and falafel balls which we shared (well my brother and I as my nephew didn’t like them)…
For my main course I ordered the palak paneer (a spinach and paneer cheese dish) and my brother and nephew ordered two dishes which were both meat but I think I was too taken by another complimentary shot that arrived as a palate cleanser – watermelon, lemon and some spice I can’t recall that I forgot to photograph one of the dishes. I must say the dishes don’t look that good in my photos but the food was very good.
And the watermelon, spice and lemon shot was so good too…then to end the evening there was a hot chocolate for my brother but nephew and I were too full – and more complimentary things arrived – a little plate of almonds on chocolate with decorated toothpicks to make eating easier.
A great night; too much to eat but definitely worth the visit for the food, service and views!
