Restaurant Review - ALI BABA

Indian cuisine crosses all culinary demographics and when an Australian friend suggested we dine at Ali Baba together with his Thai guest, three continents were represented at our table. To enter Ali Baba is indeed to set foot inside a treasure trove. The stairs are lined with the swag of the fictional thieves, the gold ceilings gleam and glisten and the entire exotic décor bursts with colour and olfactory gratification. The smell, ah! the smell: pungent aromatic spices redolent with turmeric, cumin, and garam masala tantalise the sensory organs. Is there a more welcoming mouth-watering scent to get the taste buds jumping than Indian curry ingredients? We ordered drinks, perused the menu and sat back in anticipation of the Punjabi treats to come.

We raised the curtain on our dining out with an Ali Baba 20 Thieves selection of meats, seafood, chicken and Indian cheese (B.420). Tandoor roasted chicken and paneer cheese, peshwari kebab (succulent lamb pieces barbequed with spices and yoghurt, seekh kebab (skewered minced lamb kebabs), chicken minced kebabs and tandoori king prawns were (generously) stacked on to a sizzling hot plate of spiced onions and brought crackling to our table – and what a "cracker" of a dish this was! The succulence of the meats and fish was superb and the spicing delightful. The accompanying pickles and sauces added extra sparkle and we were in sub-continent culinary heaven. All these items can be ordered separately of course together with their famous butterfly deep fried prawns (B.210), samosas, bhajis, and one of our favourites: aloo chat (a speciality spiced potato salad).

We followed this with an order of lamb vindaloo, spinach curry with paneer and aloo gobi (B.170). All had the aroma, flavour and consistency that we have come to know and love. We like to enjoy the curries with some of their superb breads, either various naan, paratha, rotis or our preference, puri (fried flour bread).

If you are unfamiliar with Indian cuisine a good introduction would be to order a thali (literally means tray) where an array of small dishes are gathered together with breads and a dessert. It comes in the vegetarian version (B.475) or the meaty kind at B.675 which would include lamb tikka, tandoori chicken, tandoori king prawns, prawn kooman, rogan josh, butter chicken, vegetable curries, garlic nam, puri, pulao rice and the famous Indian sweet, gulab jamun. A feast of flavours and it would very nicely set you on the road to becoming an Indian food fan. Another option would be to order from their set meals for a balanced combination of dishes.

Ali Baba also has a considerable take-away service available. Their delivery area is extensive spreading from Pattaya-Jomtien to the other side of Sukhumvit (as far as the crocodile farm). Deliver charges depend on the zone (starting at B.50) and the minimum order has to be B.150. Simply call the number below and they endeavour to deliver within 45 minutes depending on your location.

Whether you are a long-term Indian food lover or trying it for the first time, do visit Ali Baba and let the ambiance and broad range of spicing introduce you to the cuisine of the Punjab. The quality and quantity are more than generous (we have never left without taking home a doggie bag!) This is lip smacking, honest, wholesome food which we whole-heartedly recommend. See you there.

Ali Baba is located on Pattaya Klang (Central Road) opposite the Nova Lodge, Pattaya City, at the Beach Road end. Open daily from 11.00 am till midnight. Tel: 038 361 620 or 038 429 626 or visit www.alibabarestaurantpattaya.com. For home deliveries call (038) 423 227.