|
|
 |
| |
Manager Ajaz Akram outside his restaurant |
Blueprint
of a great menu
THIS tiny restaurant in the middle of Hampstead has
recently reopened after some refurbishment. It is colourful
and cosy. The gauze curtains in stripes of bright colours add
to the light inside. Green tables, blue chairs, burgundy and
blue walls. It sits 28 but caters for a great deal more as they
have a booming take away service.
With free delivery on orders over £12 their motorcycles
go to and from Hampstead to Camden, Highgate, St John’s
Wood and other areas covering a three-mile radius. Everything
has been thought of. The dishes are packed in plastic heat-sealed
containers with the name handwritten on customised wrap-around
labels of different designs. They are not that easy to open
but ensure that the food arrives piping hot.
The choice of the take-away menu is the same as the one in the
restaurant (but cheaper) and offer four Bombay banquets ranging
from £12 for one up to £44 for four or more.
For appetisers we had the Malai Kebab (chicken in a cheese and
yoghurt marinade baked in the tandoor £4.65), Seekh Kebab
(grilled minced lamb with garlic, ginger and fresh chilli £4.35),
and Vegetable Pakora (Mixed vegetables coated in a highly spiced
gram-flour batter £3.45).
To follow we ordered: Prawn Malawar in a spicy coconut curry
with sun-dried red chillies and black mustard seeds (£10.45),
large chunks of white fish in curry sauce £ 9.95, Aloo
Gobi (cauliflower and potatoes £5.45), Chana Masala (chick
peas £ 5.45) and Mushroom Pilau (£3.25). The prawns
were delicious, the fish flaked the way it should and the chicken
was very tasty.
The sauces seemed to have a common denominator in colour and
texture but were very good indeed.
The breads are made fresh to order using the traditional baking
method of ‘intense heat in clay ovens’. From a large
selection of naans stuffed with a layer of spicy minced lamb,
with almond and coconut and with garlic and coriander amongst
others we had the plain one which was especially good (£1.95).
There is a choice of two non-alcoholic beers and soft drinks
but patrons are invited to bring their own alcoholic beverage.
No corkage and service charge are levied on these although they
are consumed in the premises.
This is the only restaurant in London that I know of which offer
this – unless you do in which case please let me know.
No service charge is included and departing from the stereotype
wording used by most restaurants, Bombay Blueprint bring this
to your attention as follows: “If we have done a good job
please feel free to leave a tip. Thank you.” How very nice.
For the salad enthusiasts, four contemporary Indian salads form
part of the menu – something not usually seen in Indian
restaurants.
Manager Ajaz Akram confirmed that everything is home made in
the premises from authentic recipes.
Bombay Blueprint
66 Heath Street
NW3
020 7794 5252 |
|
|
|
