Except for a meal of chicken tikka, I often veer away from Indian food over the predisposed notion that anything I eat will be too spicy for my taste buds. That was until I made a trip to Soy to Chutney, this unassuming jewel of a restaurant in International City.
I expected a cafeteria, but stepped into what can only be described as a modern restaurant manned by attentive and friendly waiters. A small bell at the entrance said “Happy bell. Ring me!”. Mellow overhead lighting fixtures add a cozy glow to the dining area with lacquered mahogany tables and plush chairs.
My dining companion and I chose to be seated at a table in the corner. It was the perfect spot to observe the crowd as we ate. A few minutes later, an Indian couple walked in and took a seat by the window. Another couple also arrived, taking a seat at one of the booths.
We were handed the menu, which was divided into Indian, Chinese and beef entrees. The prices for all items are mind-bogglingly cheap, with the average price ranging between Dh10 to Dh20, except for Tandoori prawns that cost Dh30 and a kebab platter for Dh32. The serving portions are good for two people, even three.
We were served a complimentary appetizer of fried Indian flatbread called poori, which was in the shape of a cone and quite tasty. It went along well with the four kinds of dipping sauces that were served: spicy and vegetarian chutney, Indian pickles and vinegar. It was enough to whet my appetite for the dishes to come.
For starters we ordered the vegetable kaju kebab, deep fried vegetable minced kebabs with cashew which was crispy on the outside but moist on the inside. It was refreshingly good.
For the mains we ordered small portions of the Calcutta mustard fish tikka and the chicken tikka, and tried the Chinese dishes of prawns in chili bean sauce and beef in oyster sauce. The oven-grilled slice of fish was wonderful; the hamour meat tender and the mustard sauce not overpowering. The chicken tikka was one of the best I have eaten: grilled just right so that it is still juicy with hints of the spices in the marinade, including lemon. It was so good I asked for more on my plate. The Chinese dishes were delicious, specially the prawns, but nothing really out of the ordinary.
The desserts were a surprising hit. I loved the gajar ka halwa (carrot halwa), sweetened mashed carrots topped with a dollop of vanilla ice cream, and the malai kulfi (Indian cardamom ice cream with pistachio), which was creamy but not too sweet.
Throughout the dinner, we had a dedicated waiter to serve us our food, or refill our plate. That kind of service was definitely a bonus.
I made a mental note to come back to Soy to Chutney in the not so distant future. On the way out, I rang the bell.
