Mary Irvine's Blog: The Cellar at Mother India

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Mary Irvine’s Blog: The Cellar at Mother India

‘The Cellar at Mother India’
28, Westminster Terrace
Glasgow
G3 7 RU
Reservations: 0141 221 1663

I recently received a surprise invitation from my friend Pat to join her for lunch at the above establishment in order to sample the new Thali menu. I am quite partial to genuine Indian cooking and knowing this restaurant had a good reputation I readily accepted. Then I had to look up what ‘Thali’ was! It’s the Indian equivalent of the Greek mezedes.

We were greeted warmly by staff all smartly uniformed in black shirts and trousers. A waistcoat with just a hint of gold thread to relieve the blackness completed the outfit. After been escorted downstairs we had a choice of tables covered with crisp, pristine white cloths and napkins to match. The sensible larger sort! The arrangement of tables into two sections made for an intimate atmosphere without feeling confined.
Our coats were taken and we were given time to settle in before the extensive menu was produced. Our drinks of fresh orange and sparkling water were brought quickly and we were left to peruse the menu. There were small or large plates of each dish so we decided to go for the small plates and share everything.

Our chief waiter was Sajid. He was efficient and attentive, taking time to answer questions about the various dishes on offer. The phrase ‘spoilt for choice’ is hackneyed but here it was certainly applicable. We eventually settled on poppadoms, spicy onions and chutney, and a plate of mixed pakora, fish and vegetable, for starters. Delicious, so that was an encouraging start.

Bowls, Plates and Thali at Mother India

From a menus with over thirty dishes we chose monkfish (good ‘dry’ batter) with pickling spices, butter chicken (succulent) with almonds, lamb shanks (the meat just falling off the bone) with karela and okra bhaji with tomato. We added pilau rice and peshwari naan bread. Quite an eclectic mix of flavours. I mixed some okra with the lamb and it was mouth-wateringly good. Pat tried the okra as this was new to her, but didn’t share my enthusiasm for that vegetable! We were also brought a plate of spinach and sprouts. These proved to be slightly crunchy but still preserved their flavour. What a pleasant change from sprouts and spinach with the flavour boiled out.

There was more than enough for the two of us as we ploughed our way through with full enjoyment. The service was very good and we were asked a couple of times if everything was all right – which it certainly was.

Feeling replete we could only manage a thin slice of chocolate cheesecake (the sweet of the day) with two scoops of ice-cream. That was between us – not each. One of the nicest cheesecakes I’ve eaten.
Sajid having finished his shift Suni took over to bring our coats and escort us to the stairs.

The food was excellent, not overly priced, well presented and served most efficiently. The ambience was pleasant and we both enjoyed the whole experience. I have already recommended the restaurant to my family and friends and would myself have no hesitation about a return visit.

November, 2016.