How do you like your curry – super mild or tongue-scorchingly hot?
South Asian cuisine is full of flavoursome options for plain-Janes or spice connoisseurs and one of the best at showcasing this in the north-east is Echt Tandoori.
A local mainstay in the village of Echt near Westhill, this award-winning restaurant is renowned for its food and trademark friendly service.
Flavours from various regions of India, as well as countries like Afghanistan and Pakistan, make up its plentiful selection of menu offerings.
Takeaway offerings are also available here. But to enjoy the full experience, you have to eat out at the restaurant.
So, that’s exactly what a friend and I did as we delved into Echt Tandoori and put our spice levels to the test.
The Venue
Visiting on a Wednesday evening, the restaurant was half-full with couples and groups of varying ages.
The large exterior of the restaurant contrasts with the cosy feel inside which is decked with modern decor.
Being a bit of a music snob, the selection of songs made for a very calming experience – although a few traditional Indian tracks would’ve made things a touch more authentic.
After being shown to our table, we both ordered our beers (alcohol free for me as designated driver) and were kindly offered poppadoms and a trio of dips to nibble at whilst we browsed the menu.
The Food
For those unfamiliar with South Asian cuisine, glancing at Echt Tandoori’s menu may feel a little daunting at first.
There are a large range of options to choose from, but accompanying dish descriptions and advice from our servers helped us both to pick the options for us.
For starters, we shared a mixed platter which came out on a smoky, sizzling skillet.
This showcased the restaurant’s array of tandoori offerings featuring two pieces each of Sheek kebab, chicken kebab, lamb tikka, chicken tikka and tandoori king prawn along with some caramelised onions.
Our accompanying plates came with pomegranate and a dazzlingly good mint and coriander sauce, which I was later given a small container of to take home after singing its praises to the waiter – top marks for complimentary service!
The lamb tikka was a particular favourite from the starter. Its tender texture soaked up all of its flavoursome marinade and was full of depth.
The tandoori king prawns were also very plump, juicy and larger than I’d ever had at a restaurant before.
Lapping all this up with the remainder of our poppadoms and dips (the lime pickle was particularly great), we awaited the arrival of our mains.
I opted for the Echt Balti special curry, featuring chicken, lamb and prawn, green peppers, a secret blend of herbs and spices and topped with an elegant flower crafted out of carrot.
This was classed as a medium heat curry on the menu and it was just right for me.
Every mouthful was a delight. Hints of coriander peppered the creamy sauce, each meat offering presented new flavours and there were enough leftovers to take home and enjoy the next day.
My friend opted for the chicken Khazana, which was described on the menu as “a hot dish for the connoisseur of fine Indian cuisine.”
After a few mouthfuls, it’s fair to say they were sweating a little bit!
This packed more of a punch on the heat scale, brimming with smoky flavours and heat at madras strength while the presentation was excellent once again.
Our range of sides also lived up to the mark: The garlic naan was light and not too stodgy, our pilau rice was vibrant in colour and beautifully fluffy while the chips were far from bog-standard in both their taste and presentation.
After feeling contently full, we opted to leave out dessert. But its menu did not disappoint with a great range of sorbets, ice creams and fruity Indian desserts all available.
The Verdict
If you’re looking for great South Asian cuisine and even better hospitality, there’s no doubt you should visit Echt Tandoori.
The waiters went the extra mile. Complimentary fruit, chocolates and even double shots of tequila for my friend (cons of being the designated driver for me) rounded off the night in a celebratory spirit.
Being outside of Aberdeen city, the prices were also on the cheaper side than city centre alternatives and we were more than happy to leave a generous tip on top of our bill of £57.85.
To sum up, you’ll be far from disappointed with a visit to Echt Tandoori.
Information
Address: Echt Tandoori, Main Street, Echt, Westhill, AB32 6UL
Website: www.echttandoori.co.uk
Contact: 01330 860601
Cost: £57.85
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