DARBAR

     Type: Indian 
     Address: Leninsky Pr., 38. Top floor of Sputnik Hotel
     Phone: 930-29-25
     Web: darbar.ru

     Oktyabrskaya

     Price: 2000 rub p/p

                                            Shit-o-meter: -0.5 stars

         

In my top 2 Moscow restaurants. If you can scrape together a spare 2000 rubles on the weekend, then I strongly advise you to visit this place.

First impressions can deceive. Walking towards this place, I thought I was either approaching an empty Soviet Administrative building, or something resembling the Dzherzhinsk Nauchno-Tekhnicheskoe Uchilishe im. V.I Lenina. The building is not pretty.

However once I was up on the top floor, I was pleasantly surprised by the great view from the restaurants windows, and the great décor. Though, such classy things always make me suspicious in Moscow. It’s normally a sign that I can’t afford to eat here.

Although this turned out to be true, I was none the less more than happy to over-stretch my budget for this fine place.

Highlights:

1. True Indian Service—out of all the times I’ve been here, I’ve NEVER waiting fore than 30 seconds for a beer. Once, when the waiter delivered out curries and rice, he began serving the rice on our platters. For some reason the manager quickly ran over, said something in Hindi, upon which, the waiter removed the plate and rice which he had been serving, and exited to the kitchen in a very subservient manner. In less that 30 seconds, he returned with the rice and a new plate, and continued serving. NOW THAT’S SERVICE. I have no idea why this happened, but it was all done in the most subservient way, that I couldn’t help feeling like a Punjabi king. Next time, I’m gonna pay extra attention to formation of the rice on the plate, just in case! (Right: 8-armed waiter. Possibly the reason they're so efficient!)

2. Spicy food—just when I thought it didn’t exist in Moscow. Normally I find any food in Moscow very bland. I can eat a whole can of “chili” while my Russian friends have a stroke after one mouthful. Here, the spiciness was spot on—instant hearburn! That’s a good sign.

3. Free stuff—yes FREE STUFF IN A MOSCOW RESTAURANT. I’ve been here 3 times, and every time, I’ve received a discount... And I still have no idea why… Indian hospitality? Then, on my birthday, I got free ice-cream and coffee. Unbelievable!

4. No such things as NYETU in this restaurant! (Possibly because the waiters don’t speak Russian). Every meal is always available.

5. Minimal toilet problems afterwards.

Each time I leave this place, I feel content. I feel as if I’ve received true value for money, not like in most restaurants in Moscow. It worth the short marshrutka ride from Oktyabrskaya.

Ordered:
Chicken Tikka Masala
Lamb RoganJosh
Tofu in some kind of green sauce
Some other very spicy dish (possibly vindaloo)
Garlic Naan
Saffron rice
Several beers and whiskies
Papadums

Was completely stuffed after this.

UPDATE:
I've been coming here for two years without fault. But I may be witnessing the downfall of this mighty establishment. The last time I was here, the food was not up to scratch. The lamb was really fatty, and Rogan Josh sauce not tasty and the Tikka Masala NOT creamy. My suspicions were confirmed when my girlfriend went there the other week with some friends. Same thing - only a little bit worse!

Not acceptable. But I've only taken off half a point to give the benefit of the doubt, hoping that this is a temporary phenomenon.