Masala Politics was an extremely pleasant surprise after a series of dissapointing experiences with Indian food in this country. From jarred Patek's chutney at a restaurant, to getting a korma with spinach when ordering palak paneer in Bergen, to odd hodge-podges of North and South Indian cuisines, Masala Politics was the comprehensive Indian dining experience I've been searching for this entire year.
I don't profess to have any sort of education or familial background in Indian food, but I've been fortunate enough to fall deeply into a bi-weekly routine of Indian dining until my move to Norway.
Masala Politics was a different experience from the start. From a novel ordering system fit for large parties, to a refreshing amuse bouche on its opening day before the arrival of a papadum starter. The dining room was comfortable, professional, and facilitated conversation despite the open kitchen.
My partner, who had spent a year eating vegetarian in India, opted for her first non-veg experience with Indian dining here, along with a supplement of chicken 65. We started with an amazing tender chicken tikka along with a grilled jhinga as a part of the chef's choice menu. Both dishes had no shortage in flavour, and manage to keep away from the trap of a monotone array of spices.
The Chicken 65 we had our first day was fantastic, juicy, but at a lower level of spice in comparison to my experiences with Chennai, but we did opt for a spice level of 4 the first day, playing a little conservatively. Next came a beef nihari and a duck curry. While both were very enjoyable, the level of care put into making the simple essentials in the rice and naan we received were phenomenal as well.
We loved Masala Politics so much, that we cancelled a reservation we had for the following evening to come back here instead. This time opting for an a la carte experience, with a level 5 in spice level selection, and leaning more towards a street food experience.
On both days, we did run into minor issues with items being entered into the system, but issues were quickly corrected by the friendly and professional staff, and can be very easily attributed to the hectic schedule of an opening night.
Masala Politics is a fantastic restaurant that we will frequent as much as we can. Halfway through our second meal in two days there, I was already recommending it to friends across the country who had been missing Indian food since coming here. A wonderful restaurant, a wonderful experience, and I hope it maintains this level of excellence for many years to come. read more
