Rooburoo Indian Restaurant

In the ongoing series of Zem's monthly restaurant get togethers, last Saturday the time had come to an Indian restaurant over at Chapel Market with a really weird name. Rooburoo. Taste that, Rooburoo. Feels good, doesn't it? Sort of rolls off your tongue like a cat's purr or a cheeky grin. Just check out Pacman saying it, cheeky grin galore:

I was quite excited about going there since I recognised the name after having heard it banded about the office a few times and mentioned as a new interesting and well run Indian place with a well composed menu.

Rightly so it seems, from the unique name (Indian places named something with Bombay, Masala or Curry sound so tired...) to the visual style of the place, their menu and their wacky advertising it really does feel like somebody put a lot of effort into coming across as a unique and exciting place, offering new and traditional Indian food with some attitude and tongue in cheek.

According to their web site Rooburoo even means something, it is Indian for "face to face". I like that.

Upon arrival I was greeted by a friendly but slightly stressed man (the restaurant was already two thirds full at seven o' clock) who even though I was a full half hour early made me feel most welcome and seated me at a table where I could wait for my friends. The place is one of those long and narrow venues with tables down one side, serving counter down the other and kitchen at the very end. No room for a bar to wait in. Didn't mind though, the Cobra tasted just as good sitting at a table.

While waiting I noticed the music. Not only was it at a really nice volume allowing people around me to talk without raising their voices, it was also very good. Indian beats mixed with more well known dance tunes, a little Talvin Singh, nice. We can all use a little bhangra style beats to spice up our lives.

Apparently Zem had booked us in on some sort of Toptable offer where we would get a starter, a main dish, rice and bread for 9 pounds. Good deal, but even without an offer the prices on the menu would make a visit here good value for money. Would it be as good as Time Out says though?

Listening to the people around me, it certainly seemed like I was in for a treat. As I sat there studying the menu a multitude of great looking and smelling dishes were carried out to the tables around me. Hearing the reactions of the other guests, with words like "spicy, delicious", "ginger and coriander, yum", "fragrant", "ooh, try this" and "the lamb is fantastic" floating around I really started looking forward to sampling the food myself.

Eventually everyone arrived and wise from previous experiences we decided to order all drinks separately so as not to get stuck in the weird and scary world of bistro math before leaving. When we asked our waiter though, she said they couldn't do it... Sounds a bit odd, but they actually refused, saying they were "too busy" to handle food and drink separately like that.

Not letting the fear of perpetual item tallying where every attempt yields a unique result stop us we went on to ordering. I opted for the Onion Bhaji (see photo above) and a dish called Lamp Pepper Fry Dopiaza. Lamb, sun dried tomatoes, onions, stir fried with pepper corns and served with a curry sauce and mushroom rice.

Bhaji were served with a red onion and rocket salad, crispy perfection on the outside and rich, tangy taste on the inside. Very good. The Lamb Pepper Fry Dopiaza was fantastic though. Spicy and rich in taste, yet not overpowering, with the sun dried tomatoes lending a light and fresh touch to every other bite.

My companions around the table were equally impressed with their food, and the general consensus seemed to be that this was an Indian place worth coming back to to try more of their interesting dishes. In my opinion, this is what the restaurants down Brick Lane should aspire to be. Will I go again? Most definitely.

They deserve a special mentioning for their impeccable toilets. Clean, beautifully decorated and smelling of soap. Had a confusing moment before I figured out where to go though and then I realised that the answer was literally painted on the wall.

-Article by Manne originally posted on his
excellent London food and restaurant blog

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