20 October 2007

Vindaloo: Ruchi vs Jewel of India

| Maelinar
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In the same essence as the Sammy’s Laksa (old premises) being a 10/10/10 for comparitive purposes – Jewel of India gets the mantle of 10/10/10 here’s a blow by blow comparison of Ruchi Belconnen vs Jewel of India Manuka vindaloo:

Ruchi
Taste (Flavour) = 9
Size = 10
Ingredients = 10
Decor/Cutlery = 8
Waiting Staff = 8
Cost = 10

Details:
Ruchi is a comparable vindaloo to Jewel of India – but only if you are in Belconnen and can’t be bothered going all the way to Manuka. The taste is slightly lesser in fire terms (less chilli), but otherwise a good curry. Ruchi has recently undergone an update, and if you haven’t been there in a while it’s worth going down to check out their more modern decor, although they have moved away from the more intimate indian style for a more modern feel, which detracts slightly from the ‘indian experience’.

The waiting staff are a little slow, and not as personable as the Ruchi guys who actively endeavour to keep the atmosphere going. It can be a little like being served by a McDonalds cashier, as their bleak uniforms don’t do anything towards fostering an indian experience.

On a side note, Ruchi appears to have more alcoholic beverages of an indian nature which may subconsiously affect my ratings, even though I’m not rating their provision of alcohol.

Overall Rating:
I give it a 9, and I’ll be returning often as Manuka is too far to travel just for a takeaway vindaloo, especially when I’ve just driven all the way from Barton beforehand.

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captainwhorebags3:32 pm 23 Oct 07

BigDave & Ubeliever: this article was comparing an Indian dish at two restaurants in Canberra. There’s no suggestion of them being world best.

If you want to sit at home with your arms crossed and say “It’s not the same as London, I’m not going”, then good for you.

Jewel of India is very good. Nice atmosphere and high quality food. By the way, the Indian Takeaway in the Belconnen food court is actually owned by JeweI of India, so the food is quite similar. This is not to be confused with Jewel of India in the food court in Canberra Centre. That Jewel of India is actually a chain of takeaways (hope I haven’t confused you).
Great Indian food can be found at Kashmir Houseat Narrabundah shops. This place has a truly authentic feel. The service is friendly but pretty much what you might expect from a family run suburban restaurant, the decor is downright 70’s dodgy but the food is close to the best I’ve had anywhere. If you like Indian food you must check this place out. Try the Balti Goat: sensational.

Lord Mælinar3:35 pm 22 Oct 07

Sheesh ! Go move to London already !

mmmmm curry tripe…

Well said, Unbeliever. Well said.

As for London being on par with Canberra? Yeah right!! I refuse to eat the tripe that passes for curries in this town. I make my own. 100 times better, and probably 100 times cheaper.

BigDave: When I read this story, I thought it was a joke. You’re absolutely right, you can’t get a decent curry in Canberra! The ones being served up at the so-called best indian places like Ruchi, JoI or Rama’s are spiced up, unbalanced rip-offs. Still you’d have to know what went in a real curry to appreciate this. To the uninitiated, the general indian fare in Canberra can seem like it’s godsent. But that doesn’t make it any better. Superiority is relative, and in Canberra that’s not saying much.

lol @Mutley

Point taken – I was attempting to represent how far I’d drive to get to the restraunt using my woeful knowledge of anything south of LBG.

Absent Diane10:20 am 22 Oct 07

I would say tandoor in belco for butter chicken (murgh makhani?)its the best and is more sour than sweet – if you are after a bit of blatant heat the indian in the belco food court has a pretty hot vindaloo which is comparable in heat to jewel in manuka but the flavour is not quite as good. The best fish curry I have had was on malvern road in toorak melbourne- sensational and the looks of the place are typically deceiving. Best fish curry in canberra I think was at a place in watson – but not sure if it is open anymore.

I’d drive from Queanbeyan just to eat it.

Not exactly the biggest endorsement. I’d drive from Queanbeyan just to escape.

Oh, and it is telling that no-one has mentioned the Blue Elephant in Braddon!

BigDave – I have 2 options to present to you – albeit this is a spin on this thread and the subject of later critiques:

1. Go to Ruchi Belconnen and order Butter Chicken, Dosai, and Garlic Naan.

2. Go to Jewel of India Manuka and order Black Dhaal, Vindaloo, and any korma dish.

Ruchi is by far the most superior butter chicken anywhere in Canberra. I’d drive from Queanbeyan just to eat it.

Jewel on the quality stakes is superior in a lot of ways, although for me it’s a bit of a ‘celebration’ venue. If I was invited down for a meal tonight though, I would go – celebrate life is a good enough excuse. Their black dhaal is to die for.

A proper curry house in England? How about… you know… India?

In any case, I agree with VicePope. I’ve always been partial to Rama’s.

I’m sorry, but it’s impossible to buy a good curry here in Canberra (or possibly Australia), and those that think you can have obviously never tasted a REAL curry. They are all crap. Once you’ve sampled a proper curry house in England you’ll know that they just have no idea over here. As for the food court in Belconnen being very close to London standard? DREAM ON!!!

Rama’s has gone down hill since my first visit there about 3 or 4 years ago. Jewel (ask for a ‘too hot’ madras) and Ruchi (chicken andra) are great, but so is Flavours of India and Kitchen of India (in Gungahlin).

By far, the best service anywhere is Indian Affair, but I seem to recall they don’t serve one of the staples of Indian that I require. Like naan or samosas or something – can’t recall.

Rama’s – first, second, third. Then daylight. Indian Affair has been pretty good.

I have not been to the Curtin place for years. I found the food all too similar, and not especially tasty. The decor was oppressive and I thought the service was intrusive.

KaneO – dead right about Jabal’s. I’ve bought some great beef and lamb there – my cooking victims won’t go for goat. The vegies are pretty good too.

Ruchi’s who still owe me about $150-200 in wages from 1998?

Ok food, but they treated their staff crap – well the Anglos anyway.

Was at Ruchi last night. It was not bad but I prefer Jewel of India (yes, despite the slow service). But the papadum at Ruchi was delicious. I could just sit there and munch on it all day.

I agree with Jemmy – the masala dosa from the food court at Belconnen Mall is a standout – unbelievably good value, easily as good as ‘restaurant food’ and very close to London standard.

the last time I had Indian from the place in Curtin, I had the shits. I plame it on the so called “mild” chile.

I love Jewel of India. Their gulab jamuns are fantastic.

Ingeegoodbee8:38 pm 20 Oct 07

I’ve been a regular at Rama’s for years now when it comes to curry … now I doubt I’d ever get to the Belco for a feed (not even sure if the road-side assistance policy covers such out of the way places) but I might give Jewel of India a try as it’s just around the corner.

Hi Jemmy – I’ll do a rating once this thread has done its course.

I can do it off the top of my head, because I have been there before – they’re not bad for a takeaway feed.

VBman – thanks for the compliment, merely trying to provide some serious news in pennance for Friday’s efforts (Read Admins: you might want to talk to S4anta about his devious plan he came up with on Thursday night)

Head down to Jabals in Mawson, grab some goat meat (the good stuff, chunks of goat still on the bone), some spices from that shop in Oatley Ct (counter lunch curries, yam-yam) and make your own curry.

The Relapse King7:50 pm 20 Oct 07

How long have you been working there jemmy?

Vic Bitterman7:29 pm 20 Oct 07

What a great topic Mael!! I absolutely love Indian food, especially a hearty stinking hot Vindaloo.

You have just given me tomorrow night’s dinner idea!!! 🙂

On a side note, the Indian takeaway in Belconnen mall food hall is pretty good, esp for a takeway. I think they’re an offshoot of Jewel of India. The vindaloo has that cant-get-enough-of-it vinegariness and depth of flavour that is the measure of a good vindaloo. All their curries are good imo, you can tell they’re using the full range of spices and not covering up blandness with chilli powder like so many crap takeaways do. The meat samosa is one of the best I’ve had anywhere.

You seem to know your curries M so interested in what you think of them. Bear in mind they are a takeaway though.

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