Review
Mehek Indian restaurant is nestled in a small row of shops on the Rathgar Road, about 200 metres down from the crossroads. Outside is sleek and black, but inside it is cream and grey with stached linen tablecloths and sparkling glassware. Large hanging lights had large waterlily, or maybe 1950’s flying saucer, shades; either way they are stylish and impressive. I was there with food scientist daughter Abigail, who knows here way around Indian food, having been dragged around the sub continent by her parents when she was younger.
There is a good A al Carte menu, which features all the Indian favourites, with a really good selection of tandoori dishes and a selection of authentic chefs specials which feature some traditional family recipes. The prices are very reasonable, with most of the starters between €6 and €9 , while most of the main courses are in the mid teens. There is also a good early Bird menu, which offers starter, main course and vegetable side dish, rice and tea or coffee, all for €20.
We shared a mixed platter to start and got a taste of several of the starters on one plate. Chicken tikka was tender and moist, while sheesh kebab was delicately spiced. A tandoori jumbo prawn had a meaty bite, and a dainty duck roll was sweet and tangy. A mini onion bhaji brought up the rear and we enjoyed some of the mint sauce from our earlier poppadom with the lamb.
Main courses really impressed with monkfish cooked in the tandoor. I haven't seen this before. Monkfish, well fish in general, needs a deft touch when cooking and getting it right in the fierce heat of the tandoor takes some skill. Chef Raj has that skill as this was perfect. Lamb chops cooked in the pan with medium spicy sauce were another dish above the norm, and a very spicy chicken packed a chilli punch. An excellent garlic and onion Naan and Pilau rice accompanied, and myself and Abigail were more than replete by the end. We couldn't do dessert, but finished with a good coffee and a tea.
Mehek may not have the profile of some Indian restaurants, but on our visit it more than surpassed expectations. The staff are friendly and more than helpful, and the food is certainly a cut above. Give Mehek a try, it's a great neighbourhood restaurant that also happens to be excellent. They do take-away, so even if you can't get out, the food can come to you.
