Indian – Hitting the Sauce

Chew Steel and I planned to try Indian food our entire trip, having heard it was excellent in England. However, we ended up skipping Haveli in Newcastle due to the long Uber ride and passing over Mowgli in Liverpool, despite my guide Paul’s strong recommendation. So, on our last night in London, I finally made it happen. Let’s listen to “Alright” by Supergrass for this post.

We arrived at our airport hotel late afternoon, and I found an article listing the best Indian food in London’s Southall community. Cross-checking with Google reviews, I narrowed it down to my top three. Once in Southall, I used Google Maps to find the closest spots on my list and spotted the Prince of Wales, a Punjabi pub located about a ten-minute walk away in a residential area.

The interior was cozy, almost like a vintage pub. The old-fashioned lamps emitted a yellow glow, and the scattered TV screens and games offered entertainment all around. The well-used tables and seats were filled with a mix of older and younger patrons, mostly Caucasian men and women. A few Indian guests sat with authority around the room, drinking beer and quietly observing the crowd.

We sat next to a father giving work and life advice to his daughter, and his wife quickly spotted us and asked us if this was our first time at the Prince of Wales. When we responded yes, she told us to get the chicken tikka masala, while her husband recommended one of the grills, their specialty. They both warned us: ask for less spice unless you know you can handle it. We ended up with the chicken grill (£18), chicken tikka masala with less spice (£14), two pints of Peroni beer (£7), and naan (£2).

The food took a while, but it was worth the wait. The grilled chicken platter arrived with a side of sizzle, filling the air with sharp crackles and hisses as white steam rose upward. I sat, inhaling the fragrance of spices and smoke.

I gave most of the tikka to Chew Steel, as it was more his style. The lean meat had the texture of chicken breast, caramelized slightly on the outside. The wings were more to my liking, extra chubby with crispy skin. I would alternate between dunking my wings in the side of herby, cilantro-heavy sauce and a brown sauce that was sweet and thick.

My favourite, however, was the chicken kebab, made of ground meat. The texture was soft and springy, and I enjoyed the delicate charred flavour. Chew Steel mentioned it was nice to have chicken prepared in three ways: boneless, bone-in, and ground.

This chicken tikka masala had bold, robust notes, with no sweetness or creaminess to soften the edges. The smoky depth of the grilled chicken stood out, layered with the tangy notes of tomato, ginger, and spices. I appreciated the bluntness of the flavours, as it reminded me of homemade food.

The naan was flat and dry, more like a flatbread than the soft, airy naan I get back in Calgary. However, it obviously wasn’t all bad, as I still gobbled it up.

Our final dinner of the trip was a success, a great find on my part, made possible with a bit of financial aid from Chew Steel. Hitting the Sauce gives Prince of Wales Pub two phat thumbs up.

On Friday, I wanted to blow off some steam. I suggested to Chew Steel that we check out the Sound Room, my new favourite hangout. For this post, let’s listen to “Iron Man” by El Michels Affair.

I adore the Sound Room. The hard-iced tea, the retro basement vibes, and the music just hit right. I even like the crowd. It’s filled with people in our age demographic, not too old or too young, comfortably in the middle. But were we in the mean or mode? The room is too dimly lit for me to figure it out.

After a drink, Chew Steel and I decided to get a bite to eat. We conveniently strode up the stairs to the restaurant above Sound Bar, Calcutta Cricket. We sat at the bar as the entire restaurant was booked solid.

I almost skipped ordering an alcoholic drink since I didn’t see anything I recognized. Chew Steel encouraged me to order a glass of wine. Our server recommended Cork Twisted, stating the blend of pinot noir, riesling, and Gewurztraminer ($14, 5 oz) brought everything to the table. What a smooth talker. After that description, I ordered a glass. I thoroughly enjoyed the wine. It took me back to a drink we had as kids, Rubina, but this much better.

Chew Steel ordered a Tandoori-Spiced Chicken Kati Roll ($9). I enjoy the kati rolls, but Chew Steel is absolutely hooked on these little pockets of tandoori goodness. He gets one each time we visit. The sauce is sweet, followed by a kick of heat. I also like the raw, crunchy onions and nicely spiced chicken, all enveloped in ultra-flaky bread.

We tried the Murgh Makhani ($21) for the first time, Calcutta’s take on the original 1950s butter chicken masala recipe from Moti Mahal in Delhi. I would order this again. I loved how the sauce was complex and refined, not the one-note, sweet, bland butter chicken versions you get elsewhere.

We ordered the Malai Chicken ($27) again. I love the char flavour and the silky, soft meat. It tastes so good that I don’t think it needs the addition of the white cashew cream sauce. Chew Steel and I agreed this is our favourite dish at Calcutta.

The naan ($4) overflows the metal bowl like a billowing piece of fabric. We alternate between the buttery naan and plain white basmati ($3) to sop up the sauces. The most important thing for me in an Indian restaurant is the naan, which can make or break a meal. Calcutta’s version is excellent: hot, crispy, and airy.

It’s a beautiful restaurant, and what stood out to me was how all the staff genuinely seemed happy to be there. In the background, you can see the chefs calmly cooking at their stations, adding to the peaceful atmosphere. I don’t know why I’m so fixated. Maybe I’m watching too much Severance. In any case, if you love Indian food, you have to give Calcutta a try.

Tag: Indian

London, Southall – Prince of Wales Pub

Calcutta Cricket – Best Indian in Calgary