DESPITE being surrounded by restaurants catering for all manner of desi tastes, Al Mirage stands out from the crowd.
You cannot fail to be impressed by the lavish decor. The chandeliers, winding staircase and mood lighting make it a fitting choice for special occasions.
Al Mirage is among a growing number of South Asian restaurants trying to appeal to the health conscious, with its menu offering a wide-range of vegetarian, non-vegetarian, and salad dishes from India and Pakistan.
The meal began with steaming hot potato cakes stuffed with a mince and egg filling, and sizzling barbeque chicken wings. Our final starter was the old classic, vegetable biryani, which lived up the restaurant’s promise of freshness, and combined perfectly with chunks of naan with butter. All three starters hit the spot and were served in generous portions.
Our main courses were achari lamb, complemented by a sauce with tomatoes and onions, and a succulent fish curry. We decided to be cautious and asked for both dishes to be cooked mild, but the use of freshly ground herbs and spices in the food stood out.
Neither was spectacular but was enjoyable, nonetheless, and was a sizeable serving for two people.
The desserts were presented in a luxurious manner to match the setting. Rather than a scoop of mint ice-cream just plonked in a bowl, it oozed out of a crisp chocolate shell which though slightly messy, enhanced the flavour. The mango kulfi, served in a sequinned tub, rounded off a delightful meal.
The service was like clockwork, though admittedly, we did not dine during peak hours. The waiters were courteous and keen for feedback, but did not pester us to the extent that we felt they were gate-crashing our meal.
And best of all, the food is reasonably priced so dining in style won’t leave you with a hole in your pocket.
– Nadeem Badshah
Dining was at: 215 Upper Tooting Road, London, SW17 7TG
Tel: 020-8772 4422; www.al-mirage.co.uk
