The previous week we dined at newly-opened Atithi Indian restaurant and were so impressed with the cuisine that we chose to return for our Valentines Day meal. Atithi offered a seven-course tasting menu with a vegetarian option from £35 per person. On arrival, guests were greeted with a glass of Prosecco which was a lovely welcome.
Atithi Indian restaurant is located on eclectic Mill Road in Cambridge which is a magnet for foodiesA single rose at each table was a nice touch for Valentines DayTo start we enjoyed the Amuse Bouche of Broccoli, honey cumin and ginger. As Steve commented it was incredible how much taste and flavour chef had packed into a small bite!The second dish was Kale Chaat, which is deep-fried kale, spiced chickpeas, sweetened yoghurt and tamarind chutney. An unusual and delicious mix of taste and textures served cold.My veggie third course of Beetroot Tikki was my favourite dish of the evening. Deep-fried beetroot, with lentil, ginger and smoked apple raitaSteve enjoyed his third course of Grilled Scallops with peppers and smoked aubergine mashA refreshing Sorbet for the fourth course
For the fifth course, Steve’s next dish was Malai Tikka, chicken fillets with cream cheese, ginger and mace and my veggie dish of Stuffed Paneer, cottage cheese, pickled dried figs and five Indian spices.
The sixth course was the main dish on the taster menu and Steve relished his RailwayCanteen Curry, a Lamb curry finished with classic South Indian spices and potatoes, and my dish of Baigan Bartha and Aloo Zeera – smoked aubergine mash with ginger and turmeric. Both were accompanied by pulao rice, garlic naan and daal.
And to finish this Valentines Day feast what could be nicer than Rose Kulfi with a strawberry dipped in chocolate!
Last week we enjoyed sampling the delicious food at Atithi, the new Indian restaurant on Mill Road in Cambridge which offers contemporary Indian cuisine with a sophisticated twist. (The premises were formerly known as Kebabish.) Cooked by Kamaladasan, the award winning Michelin star background head chef, I knew we were in for a treat as we know his food from Navadhanya and the The Tiffin Truck. Atithi features dawat sharing options, vegan and vegetarian menus, a 6-course tasting menu, a la carte and lunch at weekends. With the tandoor oven at the heart of the kitchen, the menu draws inspiration from flavours and techniques used from all over India using the only finest and fresh ingredients. In fact we enjoyed the food so much that Steve and I are returning this week for the special Valentines Day taster menu!
Two of our party chose this Butter Chicken Masala for our main course. It was a lot hotter and more spicy than I expected!
The Naan bread at Athithi is perfectly cooked
We started our feast with Poppadoms and chutneyStuffed Paneer – Cottage cheese, pickled dried figs and five Indian spicesBeetroot Tikki – Deep fried spiced beetroot with lentil, ginger and smoked apple raitaHariyali Scallops – Tandoori grilled scallops, curry leaf, pepper with smoked aubergine mashMasala Fried fish – Grilled seabass, ginger, carom seeds, gram flour and chilliThis Awadhi Lamb Dum Biriyani was the star dish of our evening!Diced lamb and rice cooked with pastry lid served with smoked apple raitaThe Naan bread at Athithi is perfectly cooked
We shared a side dish of Kale Aloo – Potatoes with cumin, garlic and puréed kaleTwo of our party chose this Butter Chicken Masala for our main course. It was a lot hotter and more spicy than I expected!
We sampled Gajar Ka Halwa – Home made heritage carrot fudge with mango kulfi for dessert
The taste and presentation of all the dishes was exceptional which is a hallmark of Kamaladasan’s fine dining style. The menu at Atithi is reasonably priced too and the service overseen by Manager Jose is very attentive. We drank a selection of bottled beers and wine from an interesting list. My only gripe is that they don’t serve any draught beers.
Atithi is a welcome addition to the vast range of eateries on Mill Road and I am more than happy to recommend it. By the way, Atithi is the Hindi word for guest which is the way we all felt we were treated!
This week Steve and I enjoyed a 7-course menu at the newly refurbished Navadhanya, Indian Fine Dining on Newmarket Rd, Cambridge. This specially designed menu was only available for Valentine’s Day on 14th February and the restaurant was full of couples enjoying an exotic and romantic dinner accompanied by a choice of Valentine’s Day Special Cocktails. On arrival, all the female guests were presented with a red rose which I thought was a nice gesture!
A final flourish – strawberry dipped in dark chocolate to share!
7th course – Strawberry mousse stuffed jamun with mirror glaze
Navadhanya is located on Newmarket Road, Cambridge
1st course – Deep fried spiced purple potatoes with ginger, cumin and lime leaf2nd course – Dahi vada ground lentils served with thick yoghurt, tamarind and mint chutney accompanied by Santa Alegria wine, Chile3rd course – Monkfish, mustard and smoked aubergine mash, accompanied by Pinot Grigio Rosato wine, Italy
4th course – Rose apple sorbet, which was impressively served in a chilled bowl5th course – Two ways tender chicken curry leaf and roasted red pepper served with an Indian pancake, accompanied by Chenin Blanc wine, India. (This was Steve’s favourite wine as it perfectly complemented the dish)6th course – Lamb Ossobucco finished with classic Rajasthani, served with yellow dal Gulab. saffron pulao rice and spinach roti, accompanied by Santa Alvara wine, Chile
7th course – Strawberry mousse stuffed jamun with mirror glaze accompanied by Moscato wine, ItalyThe final flourish – a strawberry dipped in dark chocolate to share!
7th course – Strawberry mousse stuffed jamun with mirror glaze
4th course – Rose apple sorbet, which was served in a chilled bowl
It was a pleasure for us to return to dine at Navadhanya with it’s friendly and courteous service and the food is always of exceptional quality, so very deservedly it’s now listed in the 2018 Michelin Guide. Head chef Kamaladasan with his trademark style creates authentic dishes with a unique twist and he excels at artistic presentation. If you like Indian food this restaurant is perfect for a special occasion and comes highly recommended.
The Tiffin Truck is located on Regent Street, Cambridge
Last night Steve and I enjoyed an excellent meal at The Tiffin Truck bar and restaurant which only opened very recently and serves Indian Market food. It’s the sister restaurant of Navadhanya which is one of our favourites so we arrived with high expectations and we weren’t disappointed. The welcome, the presentation of the food and the service were all of the same exceptional standard. It’s centrally located on Regent Street in Cambridge on the site which was formerly Anatolia, a Turkish restaurant.
Two of the bright and colourful images which decorate the walls at The Tiffin Truck. I admired all the graphics!
We loved the Naan bread which was drizzled with Truffle oil
My starter of Mini Masala Dosa was beautifully presented
Red Pumpkin Curry was another tasty side dish we sampled
This side dish of Crispy Kale Chaat was most unusual and tasted delicious
Vegetable Fried Rice and Paneer Butter Masala were two of the many dishes we enjoyed
We were too full for a dessert so we sampled a Kata Mita Margarita and a Bengal Tiger cocktail
Granny Apples enjoyed her first taste of an Indian cocktail!At The Tiffin Truck you can eat in, take away or book a delivery
This splendid mural is a highlight of the restaurant’s decor
At The Tiffin Truck you can eat in, take away or book a delivery
One of the bright and colourful images which decorate the walls at The Tiffin Truck. I loved the graphics!
This is a bar and restaurant where you can enjoy Indian market food dishes alongside Indian craft beers and cocktails, and it’s a splendid new addition to the dining scene in Cambridge.
If you like Indian food you will enjoy something completely different at The Tiffin Truck which has the authentic atmosphere of an Indian bazaar for lunch or dinner, to eat in or take away. Their menus have been inspired by famous Indian street food favourites and home-style tiffin lunches enjoyed by workers across India.
According to their website ‘Tiffin dates back to the days of the Raj where British afternoon tea was replaced with the local Indian practice of taking a light meal at that hour. Every weekday in Mumbai, where the tiffin tradition began, you can still see hundreds of tiffin wallahs racing around the streets with their bicycles piled high with stainless steel tiered boxes, delivering hot lunches to workers.’
For a small deposit, you can collect your takeaway in one of their stylish steel tiffin boxes. The food is very good value and we paid £36 for eight dishes without drinks. Highly recommended and we shall definitely be making a return visit!
Taste with Granny Apples 