REVIEW : NRI Blanc
The Arcadian in Birmingham has got itself a new, luxurious Indian restaurant. Here to redefine high end Indian dining, Blanc NRI has entered the building!
They have crafted a beautiful menu of classics with a twist and irresistible dishes that you may not have traditionally chosen, to create an unforgettable dining experience. The décor is subtle elegance and the service was excellent.
We decided to let Husban, the owner, choose our dishes and I’m so glad we did. We tried food we would never have gone for ourselves. I don’t know about you, but we can be very boring when we eat out, ordering the same dishes every time. Usually, we have a jalfrezi and a masala but not this time!
For starters we had the Sheek Kebab. We were told that they wanted to make the traditional dishes the best ones you’d taste, and the kebab really was so flavoursome and moreish.
We also had the Tamarind Seabass Serenade and the Tiger Prawn Malabar Style, which are new to the menu. The seabass was incredible. Sauteed to perfection and there was just enough tamarind not to overpower the flavours. The prawns were fried in yeracud pepper masala. They had a lovely smokiness to them and little spicy kick.
We had already decided we’d return for another dinner half way through the starters.
The main courses we had were equally delicious. We hadn’t tried paneer curry before but had the Paneer Tikka Labab which ended up being one of our favourite dishes. The paneer is cooked in a clay oven and served with a really rich tomato sauce.
We tried the Kozhi Varha Curry with chicken, another new addition to the menu. The boneless, grilled chicken was so tender and complimented the chettinad masala beautifully.
And the Kadai Kurchan with lamb in a crushed coriander and red chilli masala was a delight. The flavour of it, with a whopping 37 spices, was a perfect mix.
We had all of that with a side of Dal Tadka, a plain paratha and garlic and coriander nan.
There was very little room left for dessert so we requested something light to share. The Ras Malai, a milky, crustless cheesecake cooked with saffron, pistachio and kheer, was a delicious end to the feast.
The beautiful surroundings, quality service and fantastic food make Blanc NRI a place for date night, celebrations or just a casual evening out. Whatever the reason, you won’t be disappointed with the food. I think the seabass starter was a personal highlight. We are already looking forward to out next visit to work through the rest of the menu.
Review : Rebecca Stew
Author: Dine Hub Team
