'I ate at Prince Charles' favourite Indian curry house in London and it truly is fit for royalty' -
The Brilliant Restaurant has carved out a reputation as one of the finest curry houses not just in the capital, but up and down the country.
Situated in the heart of Southall, the family run establishment has not only won the hearts of many in West London but has also wined and dined some famous faces, from celebrities to royalty.
Gordon Ramsay, infamous for his no-nonsense attitude with restaurateurs, declared the Brilliant as one of the ‘best’ in a Channel 4 show aptly named ‘Ramsay’s Best Restaurant’.
Not only this, but The Prince of Wales and Duchess of Cornwall have also visited the Brilliant with Prince Charles declaring it as his ‘favourite’ Indian restaurant - high praise indeed.
Due to it's popularity, the owners of the establishment have often been asked to expand and open branches in various locations in the capital, according to the restaurant's website.
However, they've refused. Why?
Well, they wrote: “Although it is felt the Brilliant would be extremely successful if this route was taken, this route has not been taken for one simple reason.
“If customers want to come to The Brilliant, they shall travel the distance and make the effort to visit no matter how far The Brilliant is, because The Brilliant is now known to be an institution in Southall and visits for each diner prove more than worthwhile.”
Since the Brilliant has attracted praise from both royalty and Ramsay, I decided to make a visit to the Southall curry house to see if it lives up to its very high expectations.
I arrived at the restaurant on Sunday evening and was treated to their set menu - which ticked all the boxes.
I was served four starters: tandoori sheekh kebabs, jeera chicken (cumin), chilli paneer (Indian cheese) and aloo tikki (potato patty with Indian sauces).
All options were perfectly spiced and abundant with flavour. My favourite starter was the chilli paneer which had a lovely tangy sauce that complimented the crisp of the paneer bites.
I very quickly realised why the restaurant has been given such high accolades throughout its 45 year reign in the town - the food is just simply unbeatable.
The waiters and staff at the restaurant were also incredibly attentive, friendly and accommodating.
Following the starters and a short break, an entire tray of mains arrived at the table.
The main course consisted of chicken and lamb curries, dal makhani (lentil curry), vegetable jalfrezi, pilau rice, tandoori naan, cucumber and onion raita and mixed salad.
The Brilliant restaurant is certainly generous with their portions, which is just another added bonus to the meal.
All the mains tasted superb and authentic with a lovely kick of chilli in each one. My favourite curries were unquestionably the dal makhani and lamb curry which were packed full of flavour and the lamb cooked to perfection.
The naan and rice were also lovely accompaniments with the meal, with the raita acting as a light cooler for the well-spiced food.
And, just as I thought the food couldn’t get any better, a dessert of gajar ka halwa (sweet carrot dessert) and pistachio-flavoured kulfi (Indian ice cream) arrived to the table.
The halwa was served hot which sweetly complimented the cool and aromatic kulfi.
By the time I had finished the meal, I was left thoroughly impressed by the famous restaurant.
The food really was, as it’s name suggests, brilliant.
The establishment has certainly perfected its north-Indian Punjabi cuisine to provide diners with food fit for royalty.
So, if you fancy enjoying some authentic Indian food - and who doesn’t? -the Brilliant restaurant will give you a sumptuous and splendid meal.
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