The Curry Critics team met again on Friday 2 July to visit and review one of the four new Indian restaurants to open in Valencia in the last month. We were joined this time by Catherine, Matt’s wife and Sunnil, an Indian living in Valencia who is creating an Indian vegetable delivery service, Khetosa.
We arrived just after the restaurant opened for the evening service, entering as the tilers were leaving. Namaste Pais is at 6, Maestro Rodrigo not far from Campanar bridge. It occupies a good-sized site with a big terrace outside although this is right next to a busy, noisy road.
Namaste Pais is on the site of the old Kang Da Chinese restaurant and is shedding its former identity, conducting works while the restaurant is closed. Part of the extensive inside space is being retiled and was unavailable. We had booked a table for six which was adequately sized. The welcome was a little muted but eventually drinks arrived, including a sweet Lassi. There is a small wine list, (probably inherited from the Chinese predecessor). There are also beers available including Cobra and Kingfisher. We ordered a mix of beers, gin & tonics ( which came with cardamom) and Viña Sol from Torres ( a wine much more suited to Chinese than Indian food.)
By the time we got round to ordering the starters we had a new waiter and received good advice on what we should order over and above a few reference dishes. We were even advised that we had ordered enough food which is a very positive point. The menu is extensive and the restaurant does dishes we have not all seen before but which were well known to Nitu and Sunnil.
From the arrival of the Papadums with their garnishes, mango sauce, mint sauce and an onion chutney it was noticeable that the spice level was somewhat different here, the chutney being positively fiery and very good indeed. At Nitu´s request they knocked up a warm sauce to go with the papadums that was even better! At this point we decided not to ask for additional spices in any dish.
Of the starters the Prawn on Puri was disappointing, although the prawns were fresh the whole dish was small and the sauce had too much concentrated tomato to allow the spice to show through. Sunil felt the dough was a little sour but it was initially fluffed up, dropping as it sat on the table. We asked for an Indian Kachumber salad and got a Spanish one, which was also bland. But there any criticism finished abruptly.
Namaste Pais has a Tandoor and Nitu was in her element. We ordered the Kalmi Kebab ( butterflied chicken drumsticks on the bone), Hyarali tandoori, ( Chicken breast in a green paste of Coriander and ginger) and Lamb Achari Tikka (skewered lamb with spices). All had been properly spiced and marinaded and were served sizzler style. Each of the three dishes was succulent, perfectly cooked, with large tender meat chunks. For the Kalmi we had ordered 1.5 portions so that everyone could try it , demonstrating the flexibility the staff can show and we knew then we were in a potentially, very good restaurant foodwise.
For mains we ordered Chicken Vindaloo (it wasn’t available so they substituted a chicken Phall – correct move!), Palak Paneer(spinach and cheese) Lamb badam pasanda (lamb in almond, coconut and cream sauce), Paneer naan, Peshwari naan, Keema naan and a cheese, chili naan and Pilau rice.
The first thing to say was that there was no evidence of ‘mother sauces’ being used. Each dish had its proper sauce, spiced correctly and the colours were quite distinct without using food colouring to enhance them. The chicken Phall was wonderful, Matt and Riki really praising the heat and the subtle spicing. The Palak paneer could have been a bit fresher green in Sunnil and Nitu’s view, the lamb in the Pasanda was really tender, the sauce creamy, the criticisms, if there were any, were minor.
On the bread front the Cheese and chili and Paneer naans were excellent, the Keema naan lacking flavour, a little dry and too crispy in Marian’s view , the Peshwari naan had the correct amount of coconut without being too sweet and it accompanied the Pasanda very well.
We finished with Gulab jamuns (which were a little doughy and lacking in rose flavour), and mango and pistachio kulfi’s the mango standing out as the best dessert.
The size of portions were perfect and as we have said the waiters were flexible in increasing them where necessary with the appropriate price adjustment of course. If the service was slow to start with, it improved when the food started coming, the wait being because some of the dishes were cooked freshly.
The ambience will improve when the redecorations are finished, We noted that there were a number of Spanish diners who have already found the restaurant and the tandoor dishes are clearly very popular with them.
So, in summary the restaurant is a very worthy addition to Valencia´s Indian options. The drinks list needs a complete overhaul and we have offered VÍ Vid´s services to Narender Singh the manager, the alcohol prices (beer, wines and spirits) were more than a little over-expensive and a smaller markup would stimulate sales once they have a better wine list. The total bill for six came to just under 200€ but when the alcohol is stripped out the food came to just under half that making it a very good price to quality ratio.
All of us agreed that this is a ‘Must go to’ restaurant which we highly recommend especially if you like good Indian Cuisine. It has the potential to become a top restaurant. We will all return and have no doubt the teething difficulties will disappear once the restaurant is into its proper rhythm!