Taj Mahal Restaurant, Breda, The Netherlands

...come for years at the Taj Mahal, this restaurant is a term in breda. __The service is always even pleasantly and accuraat and active. You feel you always welcome here! __These people work for years in the matter, which overgens for years the same arranged in. __Eating is well-cared-for and the card several and rather valid. __From time to time I sometimes to ge-ping of the magnetron disturb themselves which is frequently used in this kitchen. __Your ...
...been in breda, but the Taj Mahal offer for years to a constant quality and have can themselves establish..._

Magnetron?! I assume he means microwave. I'll admit that on my second visit, the bhuna and pilau rice arrived with indecent haste, though I was one of about 5 customers in the restaurant at the time.

'''CONCLUSION'''

I think I have succeeded in finding somewhere to escape the bread that somewhat ... more

INTRODUCTION

In my ongoing battle with Dutch food in the South Netherlands (losing every day in the work canteen as I'm served up more unidentifiable slop with bread, although to be fair the new caterers have a nodding acquaintance with the idea of food) it's nice to have something familiar. The ubiquitous curry is always a welcome option at home; you can't necessarily rely on it's excellence but there is usually a known quality to what you get. Such hopes (and the welcome addition of rice with a meal as opposed to bread) led me to this sole Indian restaurant in Breda. This is located on the new harbour which all the locals got very excited about last year when it opened.

THE RESTAURANT

The restaurant has wood panelled walls which looked like beech laminate flooring. There are also some Indian wall tapestries in glass frames which are quite pleasant and add an air of authenticity. Shelves are accompanied with mirrors and bottles of Indian wine and plants on them dotted around. I was quite taken by the fancy diamond shaped glass chandeliers handing from the ceiling. A red carpet completes the look, standard I suppose for this kind of restaurant.

The tables has a check red tablecloth with a Prince of Wales like emblem on each alternate check, and a cream paper mat with a white napkin folded on top of this. Completing the red look are slightly ornate dark brown wood chairs with red fabric backing, which are quite comfortable. Unobtrusive Indian music wafted through the room. They've definitely put some thought into the place which is nice to see.

THE MENU

There is quite a range on offer here from the menu. There is an interesting range of dishes; there are 6 or 7 set menus of various combinations (meat, fish, vegetarian), as well as the usual selection of curries, including vindaloo, tindaloo, korma, dopiaza, dhansak, bhuna, balti, kashmir, biriyani, jalfreizi, madras, vindaloo and selection of vegetable dishes that seemed heavy on sag & paneer, but also included lentils and mixed vegetables.

All meat & fish curries offer a choice of beef, lamb, chicken, king prawn or prawn

There are also several naans available - garlic, pashwari, keema and also chapattis. I could only spot pilau rice on the menu but to be honest I find about 10 times of rice unnecessary anyway.

THE EXPERIENCE

There were 3 of us dining on this occasion. Before the menus were brought to us, we were served with 3 poppadoms with onion & mint relish this was very nice; the poppadoms were dry crispy and tasty. Checked on bill and wasn't added as cover charge so fair play! On another occasion on my own, I was served with half a poppadom and raw onion relish, which wasn't quite as nice but was again thrown in for free.

After ordering they left some plates on top of a warmer on the table, candles inside supplying the heat, which I though was a nice touch, warm plates greeting our mains when they arrived.

I had chicken bhuna and this was very tasty; red & green peppers, onion in a thick, sauce with chunks of fresh tomato and some freshly chopped coriander on top. The sauce was adequate without drowning the dish. There was in fact very little sauce compared to how you'd normally expect in the UK but I like it this way. The pilau rice was well cooked and well seasoned, white & yellow (from the tumeric, I assume) and some chopped coriander on top. The chicken korma one of the others ordered was nice too; creamy and mild with the coconut milk & cream. In each case the chicken was firm, tasty and well marinated. When I had the bhuna again on another occasion it was just as good. The lamb biryani was also very nice; chunks of lean lamb in a brightly coloured rice dish with a nice vegetable side dish. I tried the lamb biriyani for myself on another occasion and I found it to be just as good.

On yet another occasion I tried the balti chicken and I think this is my favourite so far. The chicken is served a metal dish (didn't look like a balti dish to me, anyway) mixed in with onions, red peppers and a lovely thick, piquant sauce that really brings the flavour out of the chicken. The blurb on the menu also alludes to its pseudo Brit roots, which is quite amusing, shows how much of our food culture is wrapped up in Indian cuisine.

The meal was rounded off with an espresso, served with a neatly wrapped chocolate and promptly served, which was very pleasant.

When the bill arrived it was accompanied by some sort of mix of nuts & aniseed which wasn't bad.

SERVICE

The service was very good. The waiters spoke fluent English so there was no language problems whatsoever. They didn't rush us nor did they neglect us and were attentive when required, discrete when not. Clearly they haven't been infected with the Dutch sense of service, thankfully. If anything I find them a tad reserved any shy. Usually in Indian restaurants around the world if you're Asian they're keen to find out who the hell you are but not in this case. Anyway this isn't a criticism at all, merely an observation!

When we arrived we were asked if we wanted smoking or non smoking seating, this is one of the few places still to embrace non smoking everywhere (a nightmare or a relief depending on your point of view). The non smoking section is quite small though. Although I have recently found out that from July 1st a smoking ban in many public places comes into effect in the Netherlands. Hallelujah!!

PRICE

I would consider the price as good.12.45 Euros for a bhuna including rice or naan seems fair enough to me in this part of Europe. Of course if you get the full monty, i.e drinks, starter, dessert, this can easily set you back more like 30 Euros.

FUN WITH BABEL FISH

I come for years at the Taj Mahal, this restaurant is a term in breda. _The service is always even pleasantly and accuraat and active. You feel you always welcome here! __These people work for years in the matter, which overgens for years the same arranged in. __Eating is well-cared-for and the card several and rather valid. __From time to time I sometimes to ge-ping of the magnetron disturb themselves which is frequently used in this kitchen. __Your will, as it happens, not the idea gets that your food opgewarmt becomes, as it happens. __This is the only minpuntje however no reason stay away. The tandorie are advise Courts also really. __Also take away is possible, you then even get discount on your account. __Indians ever several have been in breda, but the Taj Mahal offer for years to a constant quality and have can themselves establish..._

Magnetron?! I assume he means microwave. I'll admit that on my second visit, the bhuna and pilau rice arrived with indecent haste, though I was one of about 5 customers in the restaurant at the time.

CONCLUSION

I think I have succeeded in finding somewhere to escape the bread that somewhat reminds me of home, though I must say I'm not a huge frequenter of curry houses at home. The standards are up to what we would expect in the UK overall, the food is very pleasant and there is enough variety on the menu to keep me amused.

CONTACT INFORMATION

Open daily from 5pm

Taj Mahal
Prinsenkade 11,
4811
Breda.
The Netherlands

Website (in Dutch) : www.tajmahalbreda.nl 

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