It may only be a very small thing, but when you eat at an Indian restaurant that has taken the trouble to create its own unique mango chutney, you know it’s well above the normal standard.
The Prince of Bengal, in Langley Way, Watford, has won quite a few awards down the years and has now been nominated for Restaurant of the Year - East Anglia & Hertfordshire at the Asian Restaurant & Takeaway Awards (ARTA) 2022.
When my son and I dined there it wasn’t hard to see why it’s so successful, and that started with a very friendly welcome and an interior décor that was cosy and comfortable.
The menu had plenty of variety: a good blend of traditional favourites and dishes that we’d not seen in other restaurants. Moreover, the manager was very quick to stress that dishes could be adjusted to suit your palate: more or less spicy, different fruit or vegetables added etc.
We were considering the mains and side dishes when our poppadoms arrived, and we got the first taste of that very special mango chutney. It was typically sweet but with extra flavours and a fresh after-taste. The manager explained they add in five different types of roasted seeds – a subtle, clever and distinctive touch, which underscored the Prince of Bengal’s quality.
My son had a chicken passanda, and we were both pleased to see the sauce was not bright yellow but instead had a far more natural hue. It had clearly been made freshly and was, he told me, sweet but not overpowering.
My main was a Naga green chicken massala which, as the name suggests, has a sauce that combines the warmth of Naga chillis with the green colours of parsley, peppers and other green herbs. It was tangy but not too hot, and both main courses came with large, tender chunks of chicken.
The accompanying mushroom rice was perfect, and both the plain and garlic nan came in for special praise as they were crunchy at the crust but moist and doughy in the centre.
It’ll be no surprise if the Prince of Bengal wins at the ARTA 2022 awards – it’s definitely worth a visit either way.
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