Star rating: **** There are very few restaurants I can name where you get the same guaranteed first class service, quality food and warm welcome every time you visit. But the Dhaka indian restaurant in Wellington is one I would recommend every time.
I first visited the Dhaka on Tan Bank when my partner and I lived in the apartments which are just a short walking distance away from the restaurant.
We always decided we’d rather dirty their dishes and enjoy the contemporary-style restaurant then dirty our own dishes and then have to wash up if we ordered a takeaway. I know, pure laziness!
And from those first impressions of a delightful welcome, tasty hot food served more than efficiently, we have been back dozens of times over the last three years.
Our latest visit was with two friends, who are also regular diners at the restaurant.
I had booked a table in advance, knowing how busy they get, but the staff have always been willing to accommodate us when they could on the nights when we have dined as a last minute decision.
Often it can mean a short drink on the sofa while the table is prepared - but they never see you go hungry.
When I’m being good and sticking to the diet I am renowned for having the boring chicken tikka, (avoiding the high calorie sauces) - despite wanting to delve into every curry on the menu. But this particular night was an exception.
After enjoying popadoms and the usual salad and sauces, I ordered a combination dish of chicken tikka masala and lamb rogan josh.
Half a portion of each dish - perfect for someone who can never make up her mind.
Our friend Ian also went for the combination dish of chicken tikka masala and chicken bhuna, while my partner John ordered his favourite chicken tikka bhuna.
Cathy, who is a vegetarian, opted for the vegetable korma which I must admit - despite being a meat lover - it looked rather appetising.
Ordered with a selection of pilau rice and egg fried rice, we were soon tucking in. Not forgetting the plain naan and the peshwary naan also ordered.
All of the huge variety of curries available at the Dhaka (which we are still working our way through) are full of tasty individual spices.
The menu describes each individually prepared dish but for those who are still undecided, the staff are first to recommend.
And the joy of a curry house, if there’s an ingredient you don’t like, you can always order it without.
Served with a couple of pints of Singa beer for the men, a gin and tonic for Cathy and a diet coke for me, the designated driver, it was the perfect way to celebrate the start of the weekend.
On previous visits we have enjoyed the starters, including the king prawn butterfly, chicken chatt on puree and sheek kebab - all of which are served in more than generous portions.
I have also made regular visits with colleagues from work.
As the restaurant opens at 5pm it is ideal for us to enjoy a bite to eat before people take to the road home.
The staff at the Dhaka are always on hand to cater for your every need - whether you’re ready to order, your glass needs refilling or dishes need taking away - they are always there.
Polite, courteous and efficient - every one of the waiters provides the same top quality service.
This is such a rarity as usually when visiting a restaurant so many times, we usually come across one who lets the team down.
Despite polishing off my combination dish, a full portion of rice and half a naan bread, I could still manage one of the ice-cream based desserts off the menu.
This really wasn’t a night to be recorded on the diet sheet.
Both John and I opted for the caramel fantastica, while Cathy ordered the orange sorbet.
A nice personal touch came at the end of the meal when the waiter brought a round of unordered drinks to our table - accompanied by a message from the boss that it was a complimentary drink to thank us for our custom over the last 12 months.
Something which wasn’t necessary but very much welcomed.
Of course, with the bill came the usual orange chocolates before the waiters fought for the door to be the one who held it open for us. They really do never fail.
The Dhaka is one of the very few restaurants I would feel 100 per cent confident about recommending to someone, regardless of the time of day, week or year. It really is always a great dining experience.
ADDRESS
Dhaka, Tan Bank, Wellington
Tel 01952 243487
MENU SAMPLE
Starters
Bhuna prawn on puree (£3.50); Aloo chat on puree (£2.80).
Main courses
Chicken dupiaza (£5.75); Karahi kebab khyberi (£6.95)
Sides
Dhai (yoghurt) (90p); Mushroom pilau rice (£2.30)
Desserts
Fantastica Pineapple boat
ATMOSPHERE
Can be lively if dining in a large group or intimate as a couple. Restaurant is spacious enough not to be affected by other diners.
SERVICE
Excellent - first class.
DISABLED FACILITIES
One step into restaurant but staff will be more than willing to help.
By Kirsty Marston
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4 Comments
The restaurant reviews in the Star have always been poor but this one takes the biscuit. In the short space the reviewer has available I expect after reading it to at least know something about the food. Here she describes the history of her visits to the establishment, the friendliness of the staff and what she actually ordered that evening. There’s no attempt to describe in culinary terms whether the food was good or bad and reasons for her comments. The closest she gets is when she describes her friend’s vegetarian dish as looking “rather appetising”. This is not a critique of the place, just a description of her night out. We don’t need to know what they all had to drink (diet coke, wow!) or that they are rewarded for their good custom by the management. I expected her to add at the end what she watched on TV when she got home! Are Indian restaurants generic to her, like McDonalds, the only difference between them being how welcome you are made to feel? WHAT ABOUT THE FOOD? Were the sauces authentic, how well were they spiced, were the ingredients fresh, how well were the dishes cooked, how did they compare to other restaurants in the area, at least tell us what they tasted like. This is not journalism, it is the diary entry of a woman who has only been to one restaurant in her life. Pathetic.
Jonboy your spot on, do we really need to know about her apartment? her diet habits? the fact she ordered diet coke and what drinks she and friends ordered? the answer to all of these question is NO. The restaurant reviews are very poor in general and me and my foodie friends often laugh at the incident stories or self indulgencies of why the chose the restaurant without actually finding out about culinary skills, taste and value. Taste and the dining experience is whats its all about but if i was to visit the establishment all i know is that im going to be treated well and the fact its menue is on a par with 99% of Indian Restaurants. Can i please know if they do any traditional Indian Regional Dishes, what the rice was like? What about the presentation of the meal? all of these things your self indulgent reviewer failed to tell anyone.
Thanks for your support jimmyfoodie. I actually wrote my comments from Australia as I’m on a year long culinary world trip, but still keep in touch with what’s happening back home, and even from the other side of the world get frustrated with the reporting on Shropshire’s pubs and restaurants. Perhaps if the reviewers were more knowledgeable they could be more constructive in their criticism and this might give establishments an incentive to improve. Fawning and groveling, as above, just encourages complacency. One thing is for certain, when I fly off to Asia in a few weeks I will be ordering something authentic to improve my understanding of international cuisine NOT “caramel fantastica” or “orange sorbet” like the idiot above.
Having eaten at the Dhaka on a few occasiomns, I can say that the food has always been very authentic. The ingredients have always appeared and tasted to be fresh, the service has always been very good, the atmosphere has always been very friendly and intimate (so that you dont feel badgered by staff) and generally a good place to eat.
Is that a basic enough review for you - no mention of personal tastes, just opinion.