Indian restaurants are not hard to come by in Cape Town with bounteous establishments serving hearty helpings of delicious butter curries, Rogan Josh and tikka masalas. What sets Bombay Brasserie apart is its modern approach to Indian fare, with a fine-dining twist on North Indian-inspired dishes.

A Look Inside Bombay Brasserie

A summers evening in December may seem like an unlikely period of the year for indulging in generous servings of curry, however, a chilly spell in Cape Town, with the relief of rain, made a meal with warming spices more than fitting for an evening of eating-out.

The Bombay Brasserie is a marriage of chic and timeless dining. The restaurant sits snugly inside the Taj Hotel and opens into an otherworldly room embellished with crystal chandeliers, hues of purple and blue and silk embroidered throne-like seating. The space comfortably fits diners with enough room between tables to ensure privacy during the dining experience.

The ample space also offers waiters a platform to glide gracefully from the kitchen bearing spice-scented dishes atop carefully balanced serving trays.

A Seamless Affair

The service and attention to detail during our experience was faultless. The staff are incredibly well-versed in everything on the menu and refreshingly informative on the wine selection and pairings based on the courses.

Each pairing was fittingly selected to complement the flavours in the dishes. Our waiter, Phumezo, was more than knowledgeable in all the offerings on the menu and was refreshingly attentive to our needs on the evening. We had a seamless experience that did not go unnoticed.

The Bombay Menu

The setting inside is opulent and the menu aims to reflect a modern spin on traditional Indian cuisine. The menu is divided into several sub-menus offering the Chef’s Menu, three Set Menu options and an a la carte menu. We opted for the wine pairing option which paired 6 wines with each of our 6 courses.

The 6-course tasting menu serves options of various dishes off the menu for sampling and serving sizes are generous. Upon arrival, we were seated by our wonderful hostess Karen who throughout the evening, together with our waiter Phumezo, made our experience truly delightful.

To Start

The starting courses arrived in quick succession. First up was an appetiser of Apricot and Potato ‘Tikki’ Cakes with Mango Chutney, followed by the creamiest Roast Corn Soup with crunchy Turmeric Popcorn. We finished off with a starter of Basil ‘Tulsi’ Prawns and Tandoori Norwegian Salmon.

A beautiful palate cleanser of lemon sorbet arrived next, atop a serving of misty clouds spilling over on the table in a show of display. It provided a refreshing intermission from the spicy courses.

The Main Affair

Our trio of mains arrived alongside gorgeous naan bread, sauteed spinach with golden fried garlic and steamed basmati rice. We sampled the Karoo Lamb Cutlets simmered in a saffron curry, the Chicken Masala with Pickled Shallots and the Black Lentils and Kidney Beans that are slow cooked overnight.

Each dish displayed a unique flavour, of which we found the chicken particularly moreish and mopped up every last drop of sauce with our pillowy naan bread.

A Sweet Send-Off

A conclusion of Baked Yoghurt with Berries and Fennel Seed Biscotti, a Gulab Jamun and Malai Kulfi and a selection of the freshest fruit was the perfect ending to our evening at Bombay Brasserie.

The service, setting and courses at Bombay Brasserie work together to provide a truly wonderful dining experience. For a modern and sophisticated twist on classic Indian food, we recommend a visit here.

For some home cooking inspiration, check out some of our favourite authentic curry recipes.

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