Review
The Eastern Tandoori is down beside the Spanish Arch area, just across the road from the new museum building. This traditional Indian restaurant serves good food at value prices, and has built up a loyal local following.
From outside the Eastern Tandoori looks stylish and contemporary, with a new coat of black paint, while inside the dining room is large, and is decorated in a traditional style, that is comfortable and quite charming. The chairs are large, with carved wood and comfortable upholstery, and the tables are well spaced and big. Traditional Indian artwork is dotted around the walls, and it’s fairly apparent that this is a more traditional Indian restaurant, compared to some of the more contemporary fusion places that have become the norm.
The menu features all of the classic curry dishes, and some chef’s specials, and all of the spices used are ground on the premises by the chefs. We dropped in for a late Sunday lunch and had a choice of the set menu, great value at only €12.50, or the a la Carte, which is what we chose to eat off.
Good poppadoms with chutneys, dips and pickles got us started, and we enjoyed two prawns dishes to start; butterfly jumbo Tandoori prawns were juicy and delicious, while prawn Puri were smaller, and came in a spicy sauce on top a Chapatti. This good start was followed by chicken Bhuna – authentic and fresh, and only €12.95 for this main – and a Thalli, which is a selection of smaller dishes, one each with chicken Balti, lamb chilli masala and a vegetarian chickpea curry. The Thalli was served with garlic and coriander naan and r Pilau rice, and was well executed, with a good array of flavours. Again, this was very good value at €20.00.
We were too well fed for dessert, but finished with really good coffees. We left the Eastern Tandoori well fed and set up for the drive back to Dublin. The restaurant is friendly, comfortable and the food and service are good. If you like honest Indian food, this is a place for you.
