Basmati in Calle Caro, Santa Catalina, Palma is no ordinary Indian Restaurant. Having been to many fine restaurants Indian and otherwise, during my long publishing career I have never met an owner who is as proud of what he achieves as Shahin Aswan. Watching him on a very busy Friday evening (every table taken) explaining how they produce the amazing flavours he produces in his dishes to every table is commendable. Shahin grows all the herbs & spices he uses in his home garden, from the limes and oranges to the coriander, mustard seeds, cumin, basil, bay leaves, an amazing array of fresh products.
The moment you walk through the bar/reception area of Basmati into the restaurant you are immediately transported very far from the streets of Santa Catalina, into a calm oasis of tranquillity designed to help you and your guest´s, be it family, friends, wife, or lover, feel the magic of India. The rose petals are there, in fact everywhere you look, but when you take in the whole restaurant it´s awash with vivid colours caringly put together.
We kicked off with some excellent starters, a mix of Pakoras, Kofta and Tandoori chicken.
Our main dishes comprised several meats including, Deer Kashmir, a delicious dish with meat which melted in your mouth. The meats were all accompanied by spicy, but not too hot sauces , all the herbs and spices blending perfectly together. The accompanying rice was done perfectly too, which is often not the case . I have never eaten a yummier Naan bread, anywhere which was, unusually accompanied by garlic lentils.
During the meal we drank a Rioja “Coto de Mar” 2005 Reserva, which was well priced and matched the food perfectly.
Finally we were bought an amazing mango “Borfy” an ice cream with a biscuit base. Which the Lady´s though were excellent.
Basmati is a world away from what one would expect from an Indian Restaurant and I would strongly recommend you try it; It’s an experience of the senses.
