The Indian Streatery — Restaurant in Birmingham

Review: The Indian Streatery, Birmingham

Today, I visited The Indian Streatery in Birmingham, eager to experience its much-talked-about street food.

Here's a detailed account of my visit:

Ambience and Service: Upon arrival, we were welcomed by the staff and promptly offered a table for two. The ambience of the restaurant was pleasant, creating a comfortable and inviting atmosphere for dining.

Order Details: We ordered the following dishes:Pani Puri (£4.95)Tikki Chaat (£6.95)Bhel Puri (£5.95) Additionally, a 10% service tax was applied to the bill.

I specifically requested that all the dishes be made spicy.

Food Experience:

Pani Puri: The Pani Puri was the first dish served. Unfortunately, it was quite a letdown. Only four puris were provided, and they were soggy, suggesting they had been reheated, possibly in a microwave or oven. They lacked salt and taste but filled with a good amount of stuffing. The spicy water was served in short glasses which was less in quantity, and it was neither cold nor adequately salted, tastes bland. Overall, it was a disappointing start to the meal.

Tikki Chaat: Next, we tried the Tikki Chaat. The dish consisted of just a single portion of Tikki , topped with namkeen, onion, chickpeas, tamarind sauce and dash of yogurt. While the dish was served hot, it failed to deliver the expected burst of flavors. A good Tikki Chaat should be an explosion of tastes and textures, but this one was underwhelming. I managed to finish it, but it did not meet my expectations.

Bhel Puri: The final dish was Bhel Puri, a mixture of Indian savory namkeen, puffed rice, onion, and chili flakes, all served on a poppadum and drenched in tamarind sauce. Although it looked appealing, the Bhel Puri was soggy and too sweet due to an excessive amount of sauce. It lacked the desired spiciness, and the flavors were not well balanced. I could not finish it and left most of it uneaten.

Conclusion: The Indian Streatery needs to put more effort into refining their dishes to make them more authentic and delicious. The recipes need to be perfected to ensure customers get a genuine taste of Indian street food.

While I only tried a few items from their menu, and there may be better options available, my experience was disappointing.

I hope the restaurant takes this feedback constructively and makes the necessary improvements. I wish them good luck and look forward to experiencing the difference on my next visit.

Overall score...

I visited The Indian Streatery for lunch today. The place had a cozy, welcoming vibe, and I loved the modern twist on traditional Indian decor. It wasn’t too busy, which made for a relaxing dining experience.

I decided to try the pani puri and tikki chaat, both of which came highly recommended. The presentation of the pani puri was nice, but I was a bit disappointed with the portion size—just four puris with less than half a cup of water. The water was overly salty and didn’t have the authentic, tangy flavor typical of real Indian street food, which left me wanting more.

The tikki chaat was a bit better. The tikki itself was perfectly cooked crispy on the outside and soft inside, with a good balance of spices. It was flavorful and definitely a highlight. However, the chickpeas accompanying it were quite bland and overpowered by the tamarind sauce, lacking the depth and complexity of traditional Indian flavors.

I only ordered a small portion because I wanted to try other restaurants in the area. I found the prices a bit steep, especially for the portion sizes. Four pani puris with such a small amount of water felt like poor value for money.

On a positive note, the service was excellent. My server was attentive and friendly, which enhanced the overall experience. The restaurant was also very clean and well-maintained, contributing to its charm.

Overall, while the ambiance and service were great, the food at The Indian Streatery was lacking the real, traditional Indian flavors I was hoping for. With some improvements in the authenticity of the flavors, this place could be a fantastic spot for Indian street food. I might consider returning in the future, but for now, I'm looking forward to exploring other restaurants...

Me and my friend ordered from The Indian Streatery on Deliveroo.

The lunch savers seemed to be good value for money, and we ordered the Homestyle Chicken flavour of these.

It arrived in good time, though unfortunately when we opened up the bag there was one of the chickens missing. Easy mistake to make, we'd ordered rotis as well so the boxes probably got mixed up.

We phoned up and the entire team was so helpful. We got through to Dhiraj, who offered us a discount next time we went in to the store for the inconvenience. We turned this kind gesture down, going through Deliveroo as the food was more than enough (despite missing one of the mains). Sadly Deliveroo haven't allowed us to seek a refund for the item, but that's against Deliveroo, not the Indian Streatery.

Ill break down what we thought about the food we received: Homestyle chicken curry: 7.5/10. The chicken was very flavourful and the rice was delicious. Not traditional Indian but really enjoyed. Sauce was a little watery but for the price can have absolutely no complaints. Samosas: 9.5/10. Wow! These were the standout. Absolutely huge and packed full of flavour and ingredients, drizzled in a delicious sauce. These are a must. Vegetable Pakoras: 6.5/10. The score may seem slightly harsh and perhaps it is, as in comparison to the Samosas everything else is diminished. They are crispy, just lacking in a bit of flavour for me. Masala chai and ginger tea: 7/10. Nothing else to be said. Too sweet for my friend, I really liked it.

Overall it was fantastic value for money and the food was great, but what seems apparent is the fantastic customer service. Really wish your team...