New Pearl of India No Less

Hullo, so where was I before last week and all the PC problems.

The other week there it was my birthday, and the purple rhino asked me where I would like to go for dinner. Sutherlands (posh Scottish restaurant) used to be nice (we haven’t been back for a couple of years), we’ve been to Minsky’s (ultra posh New York deli diner in the Glasgow Hilton) lots of times. I thought that it would be a good idea for us to go to a restaurant that we haven’t been to for years, The Pearl of India which the last time we went, oooh on Guy Fawkes Night 2004 was on Aitkenhead Road across the road from Hampden. It was small, but the best curry house that we’ve been to.

We booked the table for the Saturday, the day before my Birthday. We were surprised to learn that the Restaurant had re-located, and re-named itself New Pearl of India. It was now on Cathcart Road, across from the entrance to Mount Florida Train Station. We met up with our friend Fi and headed up there after a bit of shopping in Paisley.

When we got there, we were taken to our tables. The new premises are a lot more spacious than the old place, with a more modern feel. We started with the Popadoms/spicey onions/sauce combination, with Ange asking for Mango Chutney. Straight away the standard was set very high, excellent popadoms and spicy onions which tasted of onions.

For our starters it was a selection of Bhagis’, Pakoras and Chicken Chaat. Now Ange loves the sauce that covers the Chicken Chaat here, so at every opportunity she was asking for the recipe for the sauce, to no avail. Again the starters were excellent, though sometimes I do wish I had a bit more discipline when eating the starters, knowing when to leave room for the main course is a skill, especially here.

The main courses were excellent. A good curry is one where all the flavours can be tasted, and not be suffocated by spicy (chilli) heat. Clay Oven in Cash and Carry land in Glasgow was the last curry-house to carry that off, and the New Pearl certainly did it here. I had Lamb Jalfrezzi, which was excellent. Warm, but enough to let the flavours reach my palate. The rice was good too, but one of the things we came for was the Nan Breads, particularly their Peshwari Nan. This place does the best Peshwari’s that the Purple Rhino, and myself, have tasted.

The Purple Rhino and Fi both had mild curries which rather than be the blander counterparts, were all flavoursome with a hint of sweetness. Ange had her speciality, Chicken Makhanni Massala, while Fi had Chicken Pattia. We all shared a bowl of Chicken Chasni too. These particularly complimented the Peshwari Nan.

Afterwards, we headed back into town to meet up with Fi’s partner, Ferg, who had been at the Scottish Open golf tournament. A good night was had by all, and I would thoroughly recommend the New Pearl to anyone.

See you next time.