LASAN
On 22 July 2007, Dim and I went to Lasan, one of the best Indian restaurants in B'ham (best, but not that expensive as you will see). I found an on-line offer which would allow us to have 2 courses for £10 during early evening, so we took it.
This is how the interior looks like, at around 6 o'clock. We stayed there from 5:15 to 6:30, but we did not see any other diner.
This is how it looks like from outside. There is no evident signage and if you pass in front of it during the day, you might not notice it.
These are the popadoms offered to us, looked freshly fried (but you would be surprised if you are the first diner of the evening and offered stale popadoms).
Togather came onion and mint salad, and yogurt sauce. The yogurt sauce that comes with popadoms is usually waterly, but this one was thick, as thick as mayonaise, and tasted rather sweet.
On my part, however, I try not to eat popadoms. Why should I eat crisps knowing nice food is on its way? So I don't comment on them.
This is my starter, Mans ke shooley (according the menu, it is smoked lamb fillet marinated with yoghurt and mastard oil cooked in tandoori, served with salad and coriander sauce). The price on the menu was £5.95.
The meat was soft, tasty and pleasantly spicy. The peppers could have been cooked more, but gave nice colour to the plate. It was a quite nice starter.
This is Dim's starter, Gulafi Seekh Kebab (minced lamb with diced onions and peppers, cooked in tandoori). It came with salad and mint sauce. The menu price was £ 5.25.
I tried one piece. To be honest, I prefer ordinary sheekh kebabs. The vegetable tasted stronger than the meat. These kebabs, however, did not contain artificial colouring; it was a good thing.
This is Dim's main dish, Dalcha Gosht (Lambs and yellow split peas cooked with cardamon and peppercorns). The price on the menu is 9.95.
I did not like this one. It tasted slightly bitter, in an unpleasant sense. The taste of meat escaped into the sauce, and the meat itself was rather tough and dry. I wouldn't pay £ 10 for it.
This is my main, Shishamahal Kofta (mashed potatoes shaped into corns, stuffed with mixutre of popato, paneer, sultanas, pine nuts and cardamon, cooked with nuts sauce). Priced £ 8.95.
This was interesting and tasty. It was not hot at all, and not evey veny spicy; rather sweet, but not sugarly sweet. They started to be a bit boring at the end, but much more satisfying than Dim's lamb curry.
These are two naans (£ 1.95 par one). We did not really need two as my main dish did not required accompaniment, as it was enough starchy in itself.
These naans were really delicious. The melted butter on them had so strong flavour that we smelled it without actually putting it in mouth.
As drink we ordered 1 bottle of water (£ 3.50) and a bottle of beer (£2.85). Without discount, the bill would have been £ 40.15 (we actually paid £ 26.25 + 3.75 tip). If you don't go in a group more than 5, the servie is not charged automatically.
Two two-course meal for £ 40 is not bad for a restaurant of this class. If you go to Shimla Pink on Broad Street, one-course meal costs about the same.
The service was professional and we felt strongly the difference from the less classy places.
For the more recent, 2nd visit, click here.Here is the restaurant's website: http://www.lasan.co.uk/
