Tarka brings a breath of fresh air into an oversaturated Indian cuisine scenario
Tarka is the latest addition to the growing food scene in Banani, in Dhaka city. The restaurant, opened on 2 March, is doing quite well. Tarka is an Indian restaurant that has tried its best to bring in all the colours of India. The hand wash area is absolutely striking; the basin and tap both are from copper that gives it a rich Indian look.
Once you enter the restaurant, you will find yourself in a low-lit terrace with a few rows of benches. The inside of the restaurant is rather brightly lit and buzzing with foodies. There are antique lanterns hung from the ceiling and beautiful paintings displayed on the wall. On one side stands the long open kitchen. So after you have ordered you can sneak peek to see what is cooking.
Now that you have finished appreciating the ambience, it is time to go through the menu. To those who are familiar with Indian cuisine, you will know more or less what the list might contain. But one thing you might not know is that this restaurant is the joint venture of few friends along with their mothers. So when it comes to recipes and cooking skills, be sure that these come from years of experience. Perhaps their supervision adds that little extra thing here.
All the food here do have a strong Indian flavour. Their ‘naans’ in particular are soft and have great aroma. For Naans I would recommend their garlic Naan, however, they have a Naankulcha which is Paneer stuffed one that is new and exciting. Tarka’s Chicken Lajawaab Makhani and Beef Delhi Night are my favourite dishes to accompany Naans. Beef Delhi Nights definitely bring a new flavour and taste to the Indian dining scene in Bangladesh. The dish is a good mix of sweet and savoury flavours with a subtle sour taste which makes the dish stand out loud. Chicken Lajawaab Makhani is a good looking dish with lots of thick gravy to complement the somewhat dry Beef Delhi Night.
Tarka has a range of snacks like Dosas and Chaats. Particularly, I would recommend their Paneer Dosa. The size and filling of the Dosa is pretty good and the taste-wise it’s delicious. There were really good recommendations of their Hyderabadi Biriyani, however, I haven’t tried it yet but seems like a recommended dish by many.
I found the Tarka special platter to live up to its name. It has a range of kebabs, a great fish kebab, prawns and beef and chicken kebabs as well. It goes well with Naans and is more than enough for two people.
The portions were just right and offered us an insight into how traditional Indian spices and styles of cooking could be kept to make something delicious. At the end of the meal, we did not feel stuffed up or over filled as the food was not too rich or oily (as Indian food can sometimes be). The waiters are friendly and know their menu well. If you ask them about a dish, they can tell you what to expect from it. And perhaps more importantly, their delivery time is about 15 minutes and prices are comparatively reasonable. I could rank it as one of the best Indian restaurants in town.
For the desserts, there is the Special Shahi Kulfi and Jafranigulab Jam. Over all, Tarka has selected items of popular dishes from many regions of India. It is truly a journey of flavours. So next time you crave for authentic Indian food, you know where to visit.
House # 62, Road # 10, Block # D, Banani, Dhaka
Or visit the Facebook page at www.facebook.com.tarka restaurant
