Palm Beach, Indian restaurant in Wembley

Within minutes of posting my whereabouts on Saturday lunchtime, friends were telling me how much they enjoy the food at the Sri Lankan eatery that is Palm Beach, just off Wembley High road, an area that is littered with Asian restaurants.

This place has been going for twenty years and was proudly displaying a certificate of excellence from Trip Advisor, a good sign for sure.

The menu was extensive and incredibly cheap; competition is fierce around here, many establishments serving a set lunch for around £8, as was the case here. Fish curry with the usual accompaniments of dhal, spinach, raita, aubergines and rice also came with a rasam, a fiery hot broth that uses ginger, garlic and chili as its base.

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My companion chose the chicken curry and a side of paneer and salad. A jug of tap water and a perrier later, our food arrived in all its generosity. The Rasam, a broth that is supposed to aid digestion, was not for the faint hearted. Each mouthful, although very aromtic, was eye wateringly hot. A gulp of the raita was a pleasant and soothing mouthful, whilst the dhal and the spinach were really delicious.

My fish was nicely cooked, although I have to say the sauce was just a little over salty. The aubergine dish was just too much for me. I adore heat but it blew my mouth away. The poppadom was also extremely chewy – not the crunchy base with which to scoop up mouthfuls of delicious food.

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My pal enjoyed the chicken curry immensely and the paneer was cloaked in a very pleasant tomato sauce. A fresh salad and a bucket of water later, the bill came to a paltry £25, excluding service, which was very pleasant indeed.

I can understand why Palm Beach has been going for so long; it mostly serves delicious and aromatic food that’s as cheap as chips and frankly has to stand up to scrutiny within a hugely Asian environment. A little less salt and heat would have made it a meal to remember but it no way will stop me coming back again.

Palm Beach
17 Ealing Road
London
HA0 4AA

0208 900 8664

http://www.palmbeachuk.com

This review first appeared on food blog ‘Minding Bellies Well‘.

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