Mela

Mela Country Style Indian Cuisine
152-156 Shaftesbury Avenue (Nr. Cambridge Circus)
London
WC2H 8HL

Tel. 0207 836 8635
Fax. 0207 379 0527

After having a disappointing meal in a restaurant that I won't name, I picked up a free local guide and after reading a short review, determined that the next night I would go to Mela, serving Indian cuisine, country style.

Situated in a very busy area of London, Mela was a treasure of a find. It was very difficult to choose from the extensive menu, with the many dishes not found in other Indian restaurants I'd frequented.

I started with Dilkash Paarchey ("Melt in the mouth picatta of chicken, given the traditional Indian beauty treatment of arq kewra-aromatic gramflour mask anointed with an exotic nishashta uptan and griddle fried") which was light and delicate and I knew then I was in for a treat!

I had already decided on my main course before I got there, the Kundan Kaliya ("All that glitters is real gold and setting the gold standard is this delicacy of boned shoulder of lamb simmered in a gravy infused with zarraqoosh, mushq-e-daana and edible gold leaf"). Coupled with a portion of pulao rice and a Naan, this was a feast of such exquisite flavours and very tender lamb, that it would be difficult to choose a different meal next time.

With the choice of seven desserts on offer I plumped for the Sheer Birinj ("A rice pudding full of the goodness of milk-ghee, dry milk, cream, replete with invigorating riches of nuts - pistachio, almonds and cashewnuts, and aromatic kewra essence"). In a word - gorgeous!

The service was excellent in terms of attentiveness and presentation. The cost of the meal, without drinks, was a very respectable £22. I'm looking forward to being in London again and sampling the delights of Mela again.

Phil Higgins
20th Feb 2001