Restaurant Sahib, recently renovated, continues to serve the finest in Indian cuisine
With a scorching sun high in the afternoon summer sky, there’s something immensely satisfying about sitting at a cool, quiet bar, enjoying a delicious mouthful of sizzling tandoori chicken, the sumptuous crunch of a perfect samosa slathered in sweet tamarind chutney, and washing it down with a frosty India pale ale. It’s so serene, so savoury, so – civilized.
Watching a golf classic or cricket final on a flat-screen TV as you leisurely work your way through a delicious meal is regular fare at Sahib, the west end’s premier Indian restaurant. But there’s nothing regular about this restaurant.
As Montreal foodies and lovers of Indian cuisine have discovered, Sahib distinguished itself over the years with its famous lunch buffets, British and Indian beers, and all dishes prepared by Indian chefs in an authentic British-style Indian pub atmosphere on Hymus, just off St. John’s Blvd. on the West Island.
Time slows to a languid pace as the extraordinary hospitality offered by Rajiv Chopra and his team makes you feel at home among the exotic flavours, aromas, smiles and welcomes. So whether you’re hankering for serious heat in your vindaloo, or an incredible salmon tikka, a perfectly cooked vegetarian samosa or a stack of nan bread to ladle up a mouthful of Sahib’s famous eggplant Bharta, you’ll find it here. And so many different tastes and flavours attract so many different types of diners.
That’s the thing about fresh Indian cuisine: It seeks out and finds all your taste buds, the nuances of the palate and surprises them. Thought you knew it all? Think again. Try a bhojan (vegetarian) platter, tandoori grill feast or balti pot dish. While deciding, treat your taste buds to the west end’s favourite lamb samosas with a spicy chana masala (chickpea) dish. Sink your teeth into large black tiger saltwater shrimp, pile basmati rice high on your plate and layer on freshly prepared spinach saag.
“Don’t forget,” Chopra said, “there’s no better accompaniment to Indian cuisine than beer.” Try the Bass India pale ale, one of Britain’s oldest. Its distinctive colour was first recognized en route to the 17th-century colonies, the restaurateur explained while greeting guests in a multitude of languages, asking about families, getting updates on vacations and children.
His friendly, personal nature infuses this west-end institution with warmth and that resonates with diners seeking nutritious, exotic and delectable meals at a reasonable price. But there’s more, with daily early-bird specials, kids’ prices and Sunday family buffets that are great introductions to new Indian dishes which are always available on the à la carte menu. The complete menu is online, of course, and includes lean and fat-free tandoori dishes, gluten-free choices and an enormous variety of vegetarian dishes from which to choose for delivery to your door or for takeout.
The recently renovated restaurant has seating for up to 114 people and can accommodate up to 60 people for private functions. Two dining rooms offer great seating for both a quiet atmosphere and a more lively vibe where diners, at their table or at the bar, can take in a rugby, soccer or cricket match on a large screen.
Apart from being the premier lunch-hour destination on the West Island, Sahib’s reputation has blossomed throughout the Montreal region as Chopra and his team have been in demand for large events, be they corporate gatherings or wedding banquets, offering the most beautifully prepared Indian foods for an increasingly discerning and demanding clientele.
Whether setting up buffets for large corporate clients in the city’s west end, or a swanky affair for 700 people at the Windsor ballroom, Sahib’s authentic food, friendliness and attention to quality are as present as in the restaurant, where attentive and friendly wait staff, polite and experienced, greet everyone with a smile.
Restaurant Sahib 225B Hymus Blvd. Pointe Claire, QC H9R 1G4 514-426-1121 www.sahib.ca