Not your average Indian....
June 01, 2008
When my husband said he was taking me out for a curry for our wedding anniversary, boy was I in for a surprise. Benares is a high end Indian extravaganza located in Berkeley Square.
We started off with drinks in the dark and glamorous lounge bar – a peach and lemon thyme martini for me, and a bubblegum martini for my husband. What a revelation that was! Homemade bubblegum syrup, vodka and just a splash of lime created a drink that was both sweet and sour. The lounge bar has an extensive range of reasonably priced sharing platters, so a great option for an evening out with a group of friends. Another round of experimental cocktails (Ginger and Curry leaf martini and a superb margarita) and we were ready for dinner.
The dining room was packed and had a great buzzing atmosphere. Whilst perusing the menu we had some wonderfully light mini poppadums and homemade chutneys to nibble on. For starters we had both had spice crusted scallops which arrived as three scallops served as individual bites, each with a slightly different combination of spices – starting from mild through to hot. For mains I had grilled tiger prawns served with a curried sauce whilst my husband’s tandoor grilled monkfish tails won best dish of the night – juicy meat with a hint of char-grill, topped with a wonderful coriander sauce. A side of aubergines and some rice and we were absolutely stuffed. Drinks-wise we indulged in some house champagne, a glass of crisp Indian sauvignon with the starters, and a bottle of wonderfully fragrant 1993 Mosel Riesling with the mains. Service was swift and charming. I will definitely be back for more of those cocktails!
Tags: Indian, glamour, cocktails
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