TURMERIC GOLD (http://www.turmericgold.co.uk), sounds lovely, has an interesting setting, and the restaurant has won many awards, but sad part is, I am struggling to understand why. =s
This restaurant seems to be an extravangtly homely decorated restaurant, with bit of a rustic feel to it. As gorgeous as it was, with its vibrant velvet reds, and mahogany's, it is bit of an anti climax in terms of what they have to offer, and when I think about it, its a bit cramped and not for the chlaustrophobic - in other words just way to much going on. Nonetheless let's not talk about the decor, when we'r here to talk about food.
I can only assume that this place has won awards, because Coventry may have very little to offer in terms of a good indian restaurants/or good indian food. The prices are of a more middle-high end indian restuarant, but the menu dissapoints. So lets go straight to starters : -
So I ordered KING PRAWN BUTTERFLY: - Large Prawn delicately spiced, seasoned and coated with bread crumbs and fried. Served crispy. I don't think I've ever been so dissapointed by KING PRAWN. This was served on my plate, as if I'd ordered a battered peice of plaice ON THE BEACH. The prawn had obviously mean cut down the middle and flattened, so it could be coated in breadcrumbs. It seems the breadcrumbs had herbs on them, but all you could taste was bread crumbs. The prawn was overcooked, and tough, which was actually depressing. The salad served on the side was just, cut up lettuce tomato cabbage and a wedge of lemon,. No dressing, not very fresh, and very dried up like an old apple.. The chutney/sauce served to go with the prawn, was a corriander/chilli mixture, and I wish there was more of it because it was about the only thing that was nicely balanced in flavour, and looked like refreshing natural spring green. I recieved a smidgen- even more depressing! It just doesn't seem right, in an awarded restaurant. It all fell bland overall.
So on the other side my friend orders the Mix Kebab:- Chicken tikka slices, lamb tikka slices, and sheekh kebab. I was hoping when I tried this I would be redeemed and think oh its my dish that went wrong, but I was mistaken. What a let down. Now I believe you can tell if a chef is good, if their sheekh kebab is good, but I was definitly wrong. The sheekh kebab was the only nice thing on this plate. It was very tasty to be totally frank, I could have eaten several, but the chicken tikka, felt like it had been dipped in tikka sauce, and the lamb tikka over cooked! TOUGH CHEWY LAMB IS NEVER A GOOD SIGN!!! This lamb was old, rather than using baby lamb to make nice succulent peices, or slow cooking the lamb, this chef clearly went for lamb = rubber approach. The funniest thing about this place is, that they try and decorate their food in a nice way, but it looks so mediocre, I'd prefer if they presented it to me on a sizzler with onions. Food did not look appetizing. I think if Gordon Ramsay was to try this food, he'd share my opinion. (tisc tisc)
By now I've started making my opinions for the chef. IS HE EVEN INDIAN I'M THINKING- and if so where is he from- Ticked of Bangladeshi chef in my mind, because bangladeshi chefs have a great idea of sizzlers, and charcoaled dishes.
SO TO MAINS: 2 GARLIC NANS, 1 ALOO BENGAN BALTI (potato, and aubergine), 1 CHICKEN KARAI.
OK so if you love garlic like me you'll love this places garlic nan. Its actually the first place ever where I've appreciated a garlic nan! There weren't as soft as I would of wanted, but I was so happy about it tasting garliccy for once I don't think I was to bothered- haha. Now both dishes, very spicy, it's not that we ordered them spicy either, this place is clearly heavy handed on the spice. The mains weren't bad, but I've had better. For what this place is charging in terms of their vegetarian dishes, and non-veg you'd expect better, tasting food, along with better quality.
The chicken in the chicken karai, was succulent, and soft, but it felt like it had just been dipped in the sauce. Karai is meant to have a distinct charcoal flavour, as karai is what can be described as an indian wok. The chicken had not been pushed around the karai, to give it that distinct karai flavour. It was edible, but not like OMG I'd have this again. The balance in flavours at this place needs some work.
The potato and aubergine balti, needed more aubergine!!! I mean if you're paying for a vegetarian dish, why is the chef filling it with a tonne of potato. Once again very spicy, and nothing special. I didn't feel satisfied even though I was full. DISSAPOINTING!
I THINK THIS PLACE WAS A LET DOWN BECAUSE AS STUDENTS WE WERE PAYING £20 A HEAD ALMOST (INC DRINKS) AND ALSO BECAUSE IT'S WON AWARDS. If it won awards I definitly don't understand why, and for a Saturday night it was surely very quite, so I'm presuming the chef has changed.
CHECK OUT THE WEBSITE. I'LL BE UPLOADING PICTURES SOON.
RASH =) X
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