There’s nothing quite like a delicious curry to get the weekend off to a good start.
I wanted to try something a bit special and heard many good things about Maharajah Restaurant through the grapevine. I finally visited this Holderness Road restaurant for a sit-down meal on a Friday night.
When I walked in, I was immediately impressed by the ambience. The decor was tasteful with an overall colour theme of relaxing purple and off-white.
I sat in a little booth with a pretty glass divider—it felt very cosy. The music was decent and unobtrusive enough for conversation.
Service was very efficient and polite; I was given a menu, and someone immediately took my drinks order. Examining the extensive menu, my eye was drawn to the specials. I normally pick a Dhansak as my go-to curry, but I wanted to try something different tonight.
(Image: Hull Live)
It would feel wrong not to try the Maharajah Signature dish: whole garlic, onions, fresh coriander and fresh lemon juice described as having a “special sweet and sour flavour”.
The other option from the specials menu I tried was a paneer. It was described as a medium spiced curry with whole garlic, onions, fresh coriander and fresh lemon juice.
I also ordered coconut rice, pilau rice, and a naan bread as a treat. The food came sizzling hot in individual dishes and smelled wonderfully aromatic.
(Image: Hull Live)
The curries both had a much more sophisticated flavour than at your typical curry house. A harmonious blend of spices made for a melt-in-the-mouth sauce, with a subtle heat from tiny slices of ruby-coloured chillies.
I would definitely recommend the restaurant’s signature dish. It was not too garlicky and the fresh herbs and spices were delicious.
The other curry, a vegetable paneer, was also wonderful and every tender bite of cheese had an irresistible creamy texture. According to the menu, the paneer is homemade and it certainly tasted that way.
For two people with drinks but without starters, it was £50. There was more than enough food and it was leagues ahead in terms of quality.
Maharajah is definitely somewhere I’d treat the relatives or visit for a special occasion.