Unfortunately, in Valencia it is difficult to find good, authentic Indian cooking. As someone who's eaten some outstanding Indian meals, not only in India but also in places with large Indian expat populations like Singapore, Toronto, and London, I must say the fare generally served here simply doesn't measure up. Yes, as a vegetarian you can easily find something on the menu, but the spices and flavors are dialed back to suit the Spanish palate, and the food ends up completely lacking the vibrant flavors of true Indian cuisine.
For starters we had papadum with several sauces. The papadum was fine, but none of the sauces were spicy at all - not even the mint sauce. For the main course I had the vegetarian menú del día - pakora vegetable curry - and my companions ordered chicken tikka masala. I asked if the cook could make my dish a bit spicier, and was told that wasn't possible. My meal was edible, but so bland that it really couldn't pass for Indian food. On a more positive note though the naan and rice were fine, the service was very attentive, and my Spanish companions seemed to enjoy their meals.
Would I eat here again? Maybe, if I knew it was possible to get a true Indian meal here. A large lunch party of Indian expats was seated nearby, and I rather doubt that they would have put up with the same tasteless fare we had. Perhaps they had ordered ahead, or à la carte? Or maybe they were desperate... read more