Spice up your life!

Crowne Plaza Bahrain

Spices Indian Restaurant Crowne Plaza Bahrain

Paul Mercer and his family pay a visit to Spices the contemporary Indian restaurant at the Crowne Plaza Bahrain Hotel

The place and ambience

‘Functional and friendly’

Situated centrally within the diplomatic and banking area of Manama, Spices is an Indian restaurant at the Crowne Plaza Bahrain hotel. The restaurant is spacious and comfortable with a contemporary and functional décor with the kitchen looking out to the restaurant as the main feature.

The service is prompt and friendly which creates a welcoming atmosphere. Within moments of arriving at the restaurant my party of seven were greeted and seated. Menus were provided quickly and the waiting staff was on hand to provide helpful guidance as we diligently examined the menu whilst picking at a selection of papadums, chutneys and pickles. Throughout the evening the waiting staff were attentive and on hand to ensure that our dining experience was enjoyable.

The food

‘Authentic Indian cuisine’

The most memorable aspect of Spices is its authentic Indian cuisine. The menu is comprehensive and offers a wide variety of classic Indian dishes such as Kashmiri mutton rogan josh (boneless mutton cooked with onion, tomato and chilli) lamb vindaloo (tender cubes of mutton marinated with vinegar and cooked with potatoes and onions) as well as a number of chicken, lamb, fish and vegetable delights from the tandoori khazana (Indian mud oven). There is also a set curry menu offering a wide range of chicken, lamb, mutton, fish, vegetable and prawn curries. Certainly something for every palate.

For our starters we ordered Delhi chaat (papdi, dahi bhalla (crispy deep friend bread), boiled potato served with sweetened yoghurt, mint chutney and tamarind chutney) and special sesame deep-fried tiger prawns marinated in spices. The deep fried prawns were wonderful, succulent and enjoyed by everyone. The Delhi chaat didn’t have an authentic feel and was surprisingly disappointing.

For our main course we ordered a variety of dishes and were impressed. My favourite was the “mutton tiffin” consisting of Kashmiri mutton rogan josh, kadai subz (vegetables) and daal tadka (lentils). Excellent presentation with each dish served within one of three metal pots (in the colours of the Indian flag) contained in a wooden frame. Well cooked and well seasoned. The spice level was just right with melt in your mouth pieces of mutton cooked to perfection. For the younger members of our party we ordered murg chilgooza kebab (boneless chicken kebab with cheese and crunchy pine nuts). This was liked by all and was a good non-spicy option. So good that we ordered an extra portion! The most popular dish of the evening was the machi ajwaini (boneless cubes of hammour marinated in yogurt, yellow chili and caraway seeds). The hammour was cooked to perfection, juicy and fleshy with a subtle hint of spices. Recommended. From the curry menu we tried the Goan prawn in a coconut and fenugreek curry. A good prawn curry, with a deep well seasoned and well spiced curry sauce. Definitely worth trying. We also tried a vegetable dish, the kadai subzi (fresh vegetables tossed with onion and bell pepper in an onion and tomato masala) and the lamb chops from the tandoori. The vegetables were very good and the lamb chops were fabulous, juicy and full of flavor marinated with ginger and garlic.

For dessert we sampled Indian classics gulab jamoon, kulfi falooda and zafrani ras malai washed down with mint tea. I really enjoyed the kulfi (mango flavoured Indian ice cream) and the gulab jamoon (dumpling made from fresh milk soaked in cardamom flavoured syrup) and would definitely order these again.

Value

For a party of three children and four adults we ordered two starters, eight main courses, bread, soft drinks and three desserts and the bill was under BD100 (including a 15% service charge and 5% government levy). Considering the high quality of the food I consider this good value. The chef special modern day tiffin comprising a combination of two main dishes with one lentil dish, a plain naan bread and steamed rice at between BD6.5 to BD7.950 represents good value.

Lasting impressions

Overall an enjoyable experience. The restaurant felt a bit non-descript when we first entered as there seemed to be a lack of a styling theme. That said, as we became settled and experienced the great service and great food we soon began to relax and enjoy our dining experience. In terms of atmosphere, I think that Spices is ideal for groups of four or more who are looking for authentic India cuisine and top notch tandoori dishes.