Looking out over the bustle of Maid Marian Way, on the corner of Mount Street, 4550 Miles from Delhi is the perfect spot to people watch, but this restaurant offering authentic Indian cuisine is so much more.
Being situated close to two of the Cities major game players, namely Memsaab and The Calcutta Club, could deter some restaurateurs, but the eatery sees it as healthy competition. Constantly staying on top of your game can be no easy task, but it is one which our hosts relish. The main chef, having been there since the opening 15 years ago, certainly knows his stuff.
Admittedly, I had been to the restaurant on a previous occasion a few years ago and hadn’t been overly impressed, however, the dishes we sampled at the restaurant last night certainly reinstate them in my mind as up there with the best.
It’s strengths lay in the blend of flavours. The combination of fresh herbs, spices and ingredients. We begin the evening, as any good evening at an Indian restaurant should, by perusing the menu, aided by a cold bottle of beer (in this case Kingfisher) and snacking on crisp poppadums. Accompanying our appetiser, is of course the pickle tray. Mango chutney, a cool minty yogurt and spicy onions dips.
For our starter we try the wonderful Aloo Tikki; shallow fried potato cakes filled with asafoetida tempered peethi of peas and served with two contrasting chutneys. Sweet and spicy yogurt and tamarind. A delicious dish, the contrast between the sweet and savoury works harmoniously together.
We try two different main courses. Chicken Tawa is succulent pieces on chicken cooked on the Tawa (the name of the cooking vessel) with coarsely chopped onions and tomatoes. Flavoured with fresh coriander and crushed peppercorns, this flavoursome dish has some real punch on the palate. Sada Chawal; perfectly steamed rice is a great accompaniment.
In contrast was the Fish Makandwala. One of the restaurants Signature dishes, marinated tilapia fish is cooked in tomato gravy along with kasoori methi. A sweet coconut flavour, it is million miles away in difference from the Tawa but still beautifully subtly flavoured. We mope up every drop of the delicious sauce with a fluffy fresh garlic naan bread.
We couldn’t leave without trying some traditional Indian desserts. Gulab Jamun is among one of India’s most popular desserts, this delicious dessert consists of dumplings traditionally made of reduced milk, soaked in rose flavoured sugar syrup, served with coconut ice cream. Presented beautifully the dumplings are just the right size, as the dish can be very sweet and heavy otherwise. The flavour worked well with the smooth coconut ice cream, which is also the accompaniment to the Gojar Ka Halwa we sampled. This tasty carrot dessert is definitely one of the more enjoyable ways of getting one of your five a day.
The food is faultless. If I had to find a weakness, I would say that the restaurant lacks a little in ambience. High ceilings and stark lighting do not lend themselves to authenticity or intimacy of some of the other Indian eateries. Although the open theatre kitchen is interesting to watch. That said, we were told that the restaurant will be making some subtle alterations over the summer, so it will be interesting to see if that is addressed, as the restaurant has more of a cafe feel about it at present. Other changes coming up include the addition of street food options to the menu, which we would be keen to try.
A number of other customers were dining at the restaurant during our visit. Good business for a Wednesday evening.
Hospitality was also a key feature of our visit. We were made to feel very welcome and each dish was explained to us as it was presented.
Overall, I’d say that 4550 Miles from Deli has definitely reinstated itself in my mind as a definite contender for my business when it comes to choosing a curry in Nottingham.
*The restaurant was aware of our visit and the meal was complimentary.
Maid Marion Way / Mount Street, Nottingham, NG1 6HE, Tel: 0115 9475111 http://4550.co.uk/nottingham/
By Tanya Raybould
Editor
@tanyalouiseray
