Okay so Moonlight Cuisine says that they are the best balti in town, but doesn't every balti house in brum make that claim? Moonlight Cuisine is a local neighborhood Indian/balti restaurant that provides both dining and takeaway as an option. It's located in Kingstanding, making it an attractive option for people in northern Birmingham and Sutton Coldfield.
After returning home recently too tired to cook or head out to a restaurant, we chose Moonlight Cuisine on a whim through Just Eat for delivery. Brittany A. and I ordered right as they opened for business, and within 25 minutes we had food at our door. This is very impressive, considering a 10 minute drive to our house from the restaurant. Moonlight has an extensive menu, however one without many unique balti eats. With that said, the old standbys are well-executed here. Any time we order takeaway, I order with an understanding that what we will receive will not rival the dine-in experience. Moonlight was able to keep my fears unjustified this go round, with both starters, breads, and main entrees hitting the mark. We started with Onion Bhaji, a single order including four pieces. These onion fritter like appetizers were the second best I've tasted in the city. For our breads, we tried the garlic naan, and one of my yardsticks for a good Indian restaurant, the Peshwari naan. Both were flavorful, if overcooked in some sections. The filling for the Preshwari naan was top notch, with the sultana and coconut flavors flowering out with each bite. Our main entree was the vegetable korma, which was prepared slightly different than I expected, with a more significant creaminess and coconut texture. I enjoyed this style though, although next time I'll order with more spice to balance out the sweetness. Instead of opting for a side of basmati or fried rice, we added an additional entree of vegetable biryani, which came with a vegetable curry as a side. The rice was cooked just right, slightly less dry than normal, that helped balance out the spices in the dish. Pappadums and mint raita were gratis, as was a 2016 calendar with their menu on the back. This veritable feast totaled a very affordable £17, with enough food for two very hungry people and enough leftovers to last the next day.
Moonlight Cuisine isn't as old or well known as the restaurants in the balti triangle, but their food is just as flavorful and reasonably priced as some of the best in town. This is my new favorite Indian takeaway, and I look forward to visiting soon to experience the restaurant in person. read more