I love a curry and I love theatre, so it’s bizarre that I’d never tried Mogal-e-Azam before. Neighbouring the Theatre Royal on Goldsmith Street you might even get chance to do a bit of celeb spotting too.
The Hoff frequented the restaurant whilst in Panto last year, the photos are on the website to prove it, along with a few other celebs that have visited over the years, for infact the family run, Indian restaurant has been open since 1974. If it were a person it would be investing in a good anti wrinkle cream and there aren’t many places that can brag about being around for 40 years these days. So is 40 really the prime of your life, whereby experience shows or are you past it?? We visited to find out if Mogal-e-Azam is fab at 40.
Immediately upon entering we were greeted and seated at a table in the bar area. Bowls of Bombay mix and spicy peanuts keep us company as we order drinks and peruse the extensive menu which includes your standard options as well as House specialities, set menus, vegetarian dishes and boasts many more dishes than is shown on their website.
We are led to our table at which I am nestled close to a huge elaborate urn which I’m slightly concerned I’ll knock over, but it a lovely feature.
Mogal-e-Azam is definitely your traditional style Indian right down to the warm colourful decor, reds and golds are the theme – along with an array of visiting celebs publicity photos. Whilst it gives you something to talk about, if say your date isn’t working out, it does give a slight feeling of eating in a working men’s club, however, they are clearly proud of the visiting entertainers who have dined there.
The restaurants offers freshly prepared dishes infused with the finest spices from the Bengal and Northern Indian regions. We order a Tuna Kebab and an Chicken Tikka for starters and a Saag Paneer and a Tandoori King Prawn for the main course, along with a helping of boiled rice.
We start our meal with Poppadums and a chutney tray. The tray has mango, yoghurt, onion mix and a fiery dip.
Waiters dressed in traditional attire bring our food to the table. The Tuna Kebab wasn’t quite what I was expecting. I thought it would be fresh spiced tuna pieces but instead it was breaded tuna with a yoghurt dip. The Chicken Tikka served with a mango sauce was the better of the two choices.
The Saag Paneer is tasty and fresh. I often try this dish when reviewing a restaurant, as whether this vegetarian dish tastes fresh is a good rule of thumb for the rest of the menu. The spinach, which is cooked with onions and garlic, tastes fresh as do the herbs. I’ve had some versions which are so heavily salted and spiced it seems to hide dodgy spinach. The Paneer is fresh but I have tasted better, more flavoursome Paneer.
If you like prawns, which I don’t, they are also usually a good indication of how good the restaurant is. A bad restaurant will try and pass off those small frozen prawns. A good one will have the large juicy ones. Fortunately my companion loves prawns and thankfully these are the large variety. If you like them this way, you’ll also find them in Memsaab and The Calcutta Club.
We are given hot towels upon finishing our meal. The type I love where the waiter pours the water on at the table and it expands, a bit like the snake indoor firework you used to get as a kid.
We then also get a dish with a type of aniseed mix in it and humbugs. The dish they are served on is reminiscent of the the device the characters used to emerge from in Camblewick Green.
An unexpected but appreciated plate of fruit arrives at the table laden with pineapple and melon to finish.
There was no rush to get us out either as a further unexpected treat arrived in the form of a glass of sparkling wine. The waiters also go out of their way to chat to you between courses. A nice touch which adds a personal touch.
You can tell from my review that it felt quite a nostalgic experience. It is a real authentic restaurant, albeit you get a cracking view of the trams from the window, but praise where it’s due, authentic doesn’t in this case mean past it. 40 years has allowed them to perfect certain areas, keep some traditions and hang on to some elements that they maybe should have moved on from. Mogal-e-Azam is though still one of the better Indian Restaurants in Nottingham. It’s longevity certainly backs up its success. Old at 40? No – just a hell of a lot wiser.
For more information call: 0115 9473820 email info@mogale-azam.com
By Tanya Raybould
