A taste of...
Spices Indian Restaurant
28 Rimu St, Eastbourne, Lower Hutt.
We’d heard… That this rather unappealing looking restaurant, tucked between a hairdresser and wellbeing shop in Eastbourne village, was simply astounding in terms of quality and consistency. Having lived in the big smoke for 10 years, and hence a regular diner at the fabulous Brick Lane – India’s curry hot spot in east London – this was akin to betting me a poppadum and raising it with a tandoori.
We ordered... To me, a great curry night goes way beyond the main course. It’s all the bits and pieces on the side that make it an experience rather than simply a meal. So, aware how filling curry can be, we got a crowd around and ordered up large, the perfect way to get a taste of many dishes.
To placate the dissenting vegetarian among us, we started with the mixed platter – samosas, paneer pakoras, vegetable pakoras and onion bhaji ($17) – a great introduction to what turned out to be a great night. For mains, we ordered the big guns: Tandoori Prawns ($20), Punjabi Tandoori Chicken ($20), Lamb Vindaloo ($16), Chicken Saag Wala (cooked with spinach and spices, ($16), and Butter Chicken ($16) for the young ones. All mains come with a very generous portion of perfectly cooked rice.
To complement the feast, we had Peshawari Naan (tandoori bread stuffed with dried nuts and fruit, $4), insanely good mango pickle ($3.50), and spice-cooling raita for the wimps in the group (yoghurt with cucumber, carrot and mild spices, $3.50).
With one exception, Spices lived up to its reputation, as the meal was a taste sensation. The only dud – or should I say spud – was the Bombay Aloo (diced potato with cumin and spices, $5), which clearly had had an argument with the chef, and got no seasoning for the night.
The service… Super friendly and efficient, whether it’s dine-in or ordering takeaways over the phone. And judging by the huge collection of patron photos on the wall, Spices has a very big and loyal following in Eastbourne.
The vibe… It’s quite the opposite to most Brick Lane establishments (and many curry houses in Wellington), in that there’s no glittering bling or flashiness. And it almost looks out of place in Eastbourne.
Spices does it talking through its food – and it’s a wonderful, rich voice. Just think, many precooked curries available at supermarkets, which are often sparse and then still need heating, are around the $16 mark. Here it’s fresh, ample and delicious, for the same prices.
If you go… Order the mango pickle to accompany whatever you have. It is sensational. Spices does have a liquor licence, but also welcomes diners to bring their own wine.
And if you’re from out of town, visit for an early dinner, then shoot home on the last ferry to leave Days Bay at 7.30pm, Monday to Friday.
Rating out of 5: 4.5 – Eric Janssen