Indian through and through
by Miss Terry Diner
Miss Terry has admitted before that her knowledge of
Indian cuisine is not extensive, so when an overseas friend who
particularly enjoys this type of food was in town, we took the opportunity
to review the Kohinoor Kitchen, following the invitation of owner/chef
Ravi.
This restaurant is on that stretch of Pratamnak Road
that becomes Pattaya Second Road at the Pattaya Tai traffic lights. The
Camelot Hotel is the best landmark, and the restaurant is directly
opposite. By the way, in the evenings parking is prohibited on the
restaurant side of the street, so park on the Camelot Hotel side.
The restaurant is unassuming, tiled floors, a bar at
one end and tables with tablecloths and contrasting throw-overs. The menu
is also unassuming and starts with beverages, pricing soft drinks around
25 baht and local beers B. 60-70, and the imported Indian Kingfisher beer
is at B. 90. Spirits are available too at around B. 100 while wine by the
glass is B. 80.
The food items begin with soups B. 80-100 including dal
and a mutton soup, though a Thai tom yum (chicken, fish or prawn) is
offered at B. 120-150-180. Next up are the appetizers. These range from
papadums at B. 20, through the chicken, mutton or vegetable samosas (B.
80) to the paneer tikka at B. 180. Tandoori items follow B. 150-350, then
there is a complete page of vegetarian items, with most around B. 100 and
includes the aloos and paneers.
Mutton always rates high in Indian restaurants, and
Kohinoor is no exception with the mutton choices B. 160-250 which cover
masala, korma, do piaza, vindaloo and madras styles. The various styles
are also carried through to the chicken dishes (B. 130-200) and seafood
(B. 150-250). Of course there are the breads to choose from, and the
Kohinoor has 19 types (B. 20-60) with typical nan, roti, and paratha.
Between us, and Ravi, we chose some appetizers and
three main courses. To go with the food, Ravi suggested we should try the
Indian import Kingfisher beer, and it is certainly a very pleasant pilsner
style drop. Amusingly, it has on the label, “Most thrilling chilled!”
While waiting we were also given the complimentary salad and dishes with
red onions, a mint chutney and a red tamarind chutney.
We began the meal proper with the onion bhaji, deep
fried onion balls which were very pleasant, then followed this with the
tandoori chicken which came in large tasty pieces with accompanying
onions.
The main courses arrived soon after with a large plate
of hot garlic nan bread. In stainless steel dishes came our choices. We
had the mutton vindaloo, a butter chicken and a chicken tikka masala.
While the vindaloo was the ‘hottest’ of the three, it was still
possible to taste the different curries. For me, the butter chicken was my
choice with its very smooth curry, which I could then mop up with my
garlic nan, in true Indian fashion, but the chicken tikka masala ran close
for taste and flavour.
Ravi did send over a dessert, a very sweet syrupy gulab
jamun, but we were far too full to do any justice to it; sorry Ravi!
The expanded Dining Out Team’s Indian “expert”
was most impressed with the fare from the Kohinoor, stating that it was up
with the best that he had tasted in his world travels. With vindaloo curry
his own signature dish, he rated Ravi’s curry as excellent, and gave top
marks to the other dishes as well. For me, the quantities were almost too
much, and I would suggest ordering little by little, rather than all at
once, which could end up too much. Generous portions indeed.
If you are looking for the Indian experience, at a
reasonable price, then we can recommend this restaurant. And do try the
Kingfisher beer, too. Ravi said that he also does outside catering, so if
you are looking for something different for a gathering at home, this
could be your answer.
Kohinoor Kitchen Indian Restaurant, 17/5-6 M.10 Pratamnak Road, South
Pattaya (opposite Camelot Hotel), 038 710 423. Park on opposite side of
the road after 12 noon.
