151 Parnell Road,
Parnell
Auckland,


(09) 377 9090

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4 out of 5

Renowned for it’s award-winning Indian cuisine, Oh Calcutta on Parnell Road will rock your taste buds from hibernation without putting a large dent in your wallet.

Caught having a nosey at the menu and checking out the welcoming terrace, we were greeted by a fleet of professional waiters, clad in traditional black and gold uniforms. The heated terrace was quickly forgotten as we were lured inside by the dark, warm interior. Once our eyes had grown accustomed to the candle light, we found ourselves in a very smart restaurant, beautifully decorated with authentic Indian relics.

Surrounded by a full house of cheerful diners, the atmosphere was very relaxed. We poured over the extensive wine list and menu, all the while tempted by the scents arising from the kitchen. BYO is an option at $3 per corkage and Glengarry’s is across the road. There is also a large bar as you walk in on the right, with plenty of familiar beer, wine and spirits. We chose a couple of Kingfishers initially - brewed in NZ, with the authentic Indian-brewed variety at roughly twice the price.

The entrée’s were amazing and for a Saturday night came out at record speed. I had the Tandoori Fish Tikka ($9.90), deliciously fresh and moist. My companion enjoyed the Tandoori Chicken Tikka ($8.90), which we’d had the pleasure of viewing whilst it was created. There is a huge window at the back of the restaurant allowing you to see the chefs in action, guaranteed to keep you entertained if your company isn’t.

All the familiar Indian options are available. By adapting her family’s traditional recipes and embracing the local produce, the Head Chef - Meena, has revolutionized Indian cuisine. The Prawn Malabar was a decision well made. At $19.50, everything was so fresh with the individual flavours of coconut, coriander, onions and capsicum combining to create a mouth-watering dish.

With loads of Naan bread, lashings of spicy pickles and sweet mango chutney, my companion indulged in the ‘Ghost da Piaza’ ($18.50), a boneless lamb dish. Put simply, ‘melt in your mouth stuff’ apparently.

The dessert menu was worth a quick glance – Indian treats and a few western options – all priced at under $10.

In my opinion, Oh Calcutta sets the benchmark for Indian Cuisine in Auckland. Great food, good atmosphere and a moderately priced menu, what’s not to like.