Review
The New Maharajah is a new Indian and Nepalese restaurant in the Belgard Square complex in Tallaght. This is a sister restaurant of the New Maharajah in Clontarf, and head chef Thamman Singh cooked in the Bombay Pantry for eight years before branching out on his own.
The restaurant is in a new purpose build building, and is easy to find, with bright new awnings and signage outside. The name and logo are done in bright orange, with a sun symbol on top, and the branding is carried through inside, with splashes of the orange brightening up the dining room. Inside its all contemporary chic, with cloth covered tables and stylish chairs. Out front Manoj Kumar runs service in an understated way, and it’s consistently good.
The menu is a mix of the traditional and the contemporary, with Nepalese touches here and there. You can expect to find all the Indian classics, with some chef’s specialities. The menu isn’t quite as long as some Indian restaurant, who list every dish known to mankind, but if there is something you particularly want, they can make it for you.
We loved the Maharaja mixed platter, with an array of sizzling delicacies like tandoori chicken, marinated lamb cubes, the tenderest chicken pieces cooked in mustard, yoghurt and spices and some roasted jumbo prawns. We still had the home made dips that came with the poppadoms, and they made a great accompaniment.
We totally overdid it on the main courses and ordered a lamb Dhansak, chicken Karahi and king prawns in chilli and garlic. The Dhansak was beautifully presented, with sliced pineapple on top, the chicken Karahi was authentic and the prawns were hot and spicy as requested. Red onion, garlic and coriander naan was exceptionally good, a really light, crispy bread with great flavours and no stodge. Pilau rice was dry, not greasy, and the aroma and flavour were perfect. A fine Indian meal by any standards.
We didn’t manage to finish it all, but Manoj packaged it all up and we brought it home for the starving people we had left behind. New Maharajah is a step above the average, the kitchen has a very good chef in Thamman, and Manoj runs a good show out front. Well worth a visit, and they do a take away and delivery service each evening.
