Bombay Darbar
Av. de la Unión, 71, 30730 San Javier, Murcia
Date of Visit: 29/09/2023
Let's face it; us British are pretty passionate about our brekkies, Sunday roasts and curries. Particularly our curries. Nothing ignites Facebook quicker than what starts as an innocent post about the best local Indian restaurant, but quickly escalates into all-out naan war. We all have our favourites which we remain loyal to. Bombay Darbar is mine.
A bright, modern Restaurant in San Javier with an open kitchen where you can see your food being prepared. Prince and his team are friendly, welcoming, and attentive.
Tonight is a family affair; myself, my wife Jo, and teenage son Archie. Usually, we stuff our faces on papadoms whilst waiting for our mains to arrive. But in the interest of this review (and because I’m starving), we decide to try a couple starters, and instead stuff our faces on papadoms whilst waiting for them to arrive.
Jo and Archie share a portion of onion bhaji. Soft centred, sweetly spiced onions bound together with a crisp, crunchy batter. The inside has an almost meat texture about it, and the accompanying tangy tamarind relish adds a zesty zing.
If you like amazing, then my Dal fits the brief. A thick, nourishing lentil soup just bursting with flavours of cumin, ginger, fresh coriander, and I won’t pretend I know what else. It’s a big bowl of soul. If I ever choose to go vegetarian, I will happily live off bhajis and dal from Bombay Darbar.
My main meal registers somewhat less on the health-o-metre but is off the scale in terms of flavour. Malai Keema Kofta. Ground mince hand formed into kofta balls, cooked in the tandoor and finished off in a ridiculously delicious rich and creamy sauce.
The chef will cook each dish to your liking. I prefer my curry to be a little milder, which means it has to be good; there’s nowhere to hide with mild. You can't simply mask a bland dish with a ton of chilli. It's perfect. The kofta are exquisitely soft to the bite, breaking up slightly into the sauce adding another level of flavour to the already gorgeous gravy.
My wife’s Lamb Boti Tikka arrives stacked high, sizzling and smoking, catching the attention of the other diners. It looks great and tastes even better. Archie’s Lamb Bhuna is equally impressive, a lusciously thick tomato sauce clinging lovingly to the tender, slow-cooked meat.
A garlic naan and pilau rice completes our meal. No dessert tonight. We’re stuffed. Our leftovers are boxed up for tomorrow’s lunch. Just enough room left for complimentary shots..
I do love a Ruby. Over the years I’ve eaten more than my fair share, of various regional styles, as my waistline bears honest testament to. And the thing is, I don’t think I’ve ever eaten a bad one. But then again, I've only ever eaten a few that are truly exceptional. Bombay Darbar’s is one of them.
This isn't just the place we head to when we fancy a decent curry. It's our go to when we want a great night out regardless of the cuisine. We always receive a genuine warm welcome, just as we did on our very first visit.
Papadoms and pickles, Onion Bhajis to share, Lentil Dal, 3 mains, 2 pilau rice, garlic naan, 4 glasses of wine, bottle of water and complimentary shots came to less than €80,00.
Call +34 868 1874 68 for reservations.
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