Review by Harriet Mould
Situated in the Albert Dock’s Atlantic Pavilion, Spice Lounge proved beautiful both outside and in. Arriving early, my guest and I were seated in the reception, where we found ourselves gazing at exposed brick walls, an impressive spiral staircase leading to their recently extended first floor dining area, and the combined fish tank and drinks table positioned between us, teeming with exotic sea life.
Once seated at our table, the surroundings became more muted, with silver walls being the only point of extravagance in an otherwise elegant and dimly lit room, suitable for anything from first dates, to office parties.
We drank, at the recommendation of our host, a deliciously citric Chilean chardonnay, and were presented with book-like menus, a quick scan of which led me to understand why Spice Lounge is such a firm favourite for locals and tourists alike.
Spice Lounge, thanks to an astounding range of fairly priced dishes, is suitable for all pallets and tastes. The huge menu offers a superb selection, from modern, sweet dishes to spicy classics, complete with an impressive choice for vegetarians, and though vegans and coeliacs may have a harder time finding something suitable, the friendly, attentive and informative staff is more than happy to suggest and amend dishes accordingly.
To start, my guest chose the subtly flavoured Paneer Ka Soola; tender cubed pieces of Indian cottage cheese with marinated vegetables. I opted for Rapti Salmon; marinated salmon infused with honey and dill. Gently spicy and charcoal-roasted, the seasoning complimented the salmon beautifully, keeping the sweetness of the honey delicate. In fact, the only criticism of the dishes was their size: large enough to share, or to even have as a main course, upon finishing we were both distinctly aware of how full we were, and the disservice we were likely to give our main courses.
I chose Prawn Gulnaar, a dish understandably recommended by the staff. It comprised of vinegar and lemon soaked king prawns, cooked with semi-dry tomato and onion massala sauce, resulting in a dish that is slightly spicy, rich, and delicately zesty. I managed as much as I could, my enjoyment of the dish entirely overriding my full stomach, and briefly considered filling my pockets with the lemon rice (cooked with turmeric, chilli, mustard seeds and cashew nuts) to take home.
Similarly, my guest found herself sadly full to the brim of her fragrant Palak Corn Mushroom, a beautiful spinach and button mushroom dish infused with fresh coriander and garlic, complimented by an incredibly fluffy Kulcha nan, stuffed with spiced onion and mashed potato.
Spice Lounge is an exciting marriage between tradition and modernity, both in terms of the innovative food and the welcoming atmosphere. Go with an empty stomach, good friends, and plenty of time to kill. You won’t be disappointed…though you also may not be able to get up from the table, afterwards.
