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Maharaja Palace along Njiro Road. |
Maharajas: You don't have to travel to Calcutta
By Elisha Mayallah
Unpretentious, Maharaja Palace rests between a grouping of flats and across from
a road leading to the upmarket Njiro suburb in Arusha. It boasts of décor that
is elegant and warm, and provides sumptuous Indian dishes for people with an
adventurous palate and a fondness for fusion food. The combination of diverse
culinary traditions, cosy atmosphere and cheeky difference makes Maharaja a
pleasure to visit on any day of the week.
For those of you wanting to try out some great tandoori cooking without having
to travel to Calcutta to get the real deal, then pay a visit to Maharaja's
Tandoori Restaurant. Calcutta is situated in the Northern part of India, a
geographical area that delights in its gastronomic speciality - tandoori
cooking.
Maharaja is a remarkable little restaurant, not as breathtaking as Calcutta's
Eden Gardens, but credible northern Indian cuisine is guaranteed. The word
tandoori refers to the types of dishes prepared in a 'tandoor' or clay oven with
their distinct, smoked flavour and tender texture.
The restaurant's foyer area provides a quiet space for pre-dinner drinks while
the dining area is perfect for business lunches and family get-togethers. There
are smaller thatched huts that provide more intimate, secluded setting.
One of the restaurant's draw cards is its stunning panoramic view over Arusha's
northern suburbs, particularly at sunset. The patio is perfect for quiet
romantic soirees with the Chiefs Rendezvous bar beaming with patrons almost
every evening.
This is one of the most detailed and original bars which provide a wide
selections of imported and local beers; spirits, wines and cocktails. If you
lean towards the healthy side of things, then opt for the rich selection of
cocktails. The bar is named after the Maharaja's Chairman, a prominent lawyer in
town, Chief Mirambo.
"We are dedicated to serve our clients with an attention to detail service
delivery, and offer the value for money meals" said Chief Mirambo when I and
another scribe visited the bar for some drinks and fine grilled chicken, some
few days ago.
According to my friend the 'chicken choma' menu at the Maharajas is nearly
similar to the one which was being offered at – Kwa Makange – in Dar es Salaam
where notable personalities like Mayor Sykes, Advocate Maira, Chief Mirambo and
many others used to patronize. However the joint, which was owned by Mr. Makange
one of the TANU founder members and a journalist, is no longer in business.
Before we get on to the food there are a couple of other things to rave about:
the security at the restaurant is robust but rather conspicuous, including a
guard stationed at the street-level entrance and a security gate with ample
parking. While these measures are obviously designed to given patrons and staff
peace of mind, they do detract from the venue's sophisticated, intimate
atmosphere.
Okay, on to the food. Expect the usual when looking at the menu, with Murg Handi
[mild chicken delicacy cooked in thick gravy] and Maharaja Special [boneless
full chicken cooked in Chef's secret recipe, special sauce blended with cream of
almonds, cashew nuts, and fruits], mutton and seafood.
Also, this is the greatest place for vegetarians and the paneer Tikka, an exotic
kebabab of Indian cottage cheese dish cooked in tandoor to perfection. All
dishes come to your table mild, medium or hot.
The portions are generous and thick sauces are quite delicious when drizzled
over basmati rice naan bread. The naan bread is whole-wheat and cooked in a clay
oven, but overall the basmati rice is best when worrying about weight.
"The beauty of our foods is in the preparation and presentation" said the young
Indian Chef, Rai Sigh, now at the age of 27, brought up in the profession for
over a decade.
Another sumptuous dish is the fiery red-hot Kadhai Murg, known as the king of
curries and recommended only to the serious connoisseur. The perfectly cooked
chicken in tomato based sauce.
Be adventurous and sample Indian cuisine at the Maharaja's. It is light,
flamboyant and the ultimate fusion food. The Maharaja's is undoubtedly a great
place to find nutritious food yet yummy dishes.
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