Some Like it Hot! ? Mirch Masala Curry House in Tooting

Curries tend to be a personal thing, especially the next day! (Only joking …), seriously though everybody has their favourite and seeming blind defiance to listen to anybody else’s suggestions!

I’m completely guilty of this trait.

No matter how enthused somebody is about their local curry house and no matter how spectacular they claim the sundries to be, my eyes glaze over and I have the rebuttal on the tip of my tongue …

… The Mirch Masala, Tooting, London …

Now, to add some collateral to my recommendation:

I’ve eaten curries in Manchester, I used to live in Birmingham and being originally from Newcastle, when driving home from London, you pass Leeds which is close to … Bradford!!

So there you have my curry credentials!

As a kid I remember going to curry houses with my parents and finding the whole experience rather comfortable for want of a better word. Big padded chairs, plush carpets, waistcoated waiters … and this was just for people picking-up their takeouts. Obviously the food was the real attraction! Mandatory, 1 yellow (korma) and 1 red (tikka masala) pseudo-curry dishes ordered for the sibling and I, throwing us a one-year supply of e-numbers and a coke can’s worth of sugar in each, plus the vast array of sundries, silver chutney trays, condiments etc etc the whole experience was always rather elegant.

And now? … now … the starry lights of Tooting and the Mirch Masala, my curry manners are well and truly out of the window. No chunky cutlery, no cloth napkins, just surly waiters, fast hot food and bring your own booze.

It was a bit like feeding time at the zoo on my last visit, so unfortunately no pictures of the food. But when you think that 6 hungry punters can smash through a 3 course feast (complimentary poppadoms counted as 1 course …) and the bill rocks-up to being under £65, you’re onto a bit of a winner.

Food Highlights

Starters

Paneer Tikka - marinated pieces of paneer cheese, skewered and cooked quickly in the tandoor oven, served with large chunks of onions, peppers and a little extra tikka marinade is an absolute award winner. HUGE flavours from the slightly charred paneer with a real garlic and spice kick from the marinade.

Mirch Masala Fish - everything in context, but the Mirch has actually improved upon the classic British battered fish. Using a delicate spiced batter mix and tilapia fillet, this starter is absolutely sublime. Nothing more comes on the plate other than a wedge of lemon and the battered fillet, why detract from the main event! However a small spoon of the complimentary raita does work a treat.

3 Grilled Lamb Chops - need I say more! rather thin chops, but meltingly tender and with the beautiful charred taste that’s never to be replicated at home …



Mains (All dishes can be served mild medium or hot):

Karahi Butter Beans Methi - a naturally hot, dry vegetarian dish with huge butter beans and spiced methi. This is actually a fantastic sharing dish and helps balance the flavours of some of the richer saucier dishes.

Karahi Methi Gosht - a personal recommendation from a rather moody waiter, but someone who clearly knows his food. Slow cooked lamb pieces with a spiced tomato, onion and methi sauce. Absolutely incredible.

Karahi Butter Chicken - the name says it all. A creamy sauce, rich in ghee with tender pieces of chicken. A rather refreshing mouthful after the spice attack from others.

Karahi Fish - utilising the winning combination of garam masala, tomatoes and onions with a good whack of ghee, this sauce poaches the fish to a flaked perfection.

Sundries - as standard. All fresh. All doused with ghee. All good.

Rice - yep.

A simplistic menu presents a great range of starters broken-down into hot and cold options with prices ranging from about £3 - £5, while the mains, predomiantly cooked in a ‘Karahi’ or wok, are all around the £5 - £6 mark. Sundries and rice dishes are all priced at about £1 - £2 each.

This is not a recommendation this is a you must go.

Mirch Masala

213 Upper Tooting Road

London SW17 7TG

Tel: 0208 672 7500

Visit the Mirch Masala website for more details