It is a bit amusing to me that my first meal in Dublin should not be an old-fashioned Irish stew or bangers & mash in a pub but instead some standard home-style Indian food in a relatively empty but clean restaurant near that inexplicable Millennium Spire, something they advertise heavily on their menu cover. I can understand why since it would be hard to seek out this place otherwise. In full disclosure, I was in a post-jet-lag haze and thought I was going to the other Madina across O’Connell, the one praised on Unilocal,but it turned out this is a pretty new place just getting established since it was getting a lot of passing glances but no takers. OK I’ll give it a try. I have to admit it was not a promising start with the € 3.95 Tandoori Chicken Leg, which was a bit dry and not even covered in the requisite tumeric and cayenne to give it the rich red color I was expecting. It came with a side salad and a strange little dollop of mayo and ketchup as if to appease local tastes I’m assuming(see photo). Chicken is chicken, and I was tired and famished, so it was good enough. It just wasn’t anything that thrilled me in the least. Much better was the next dish that arrived, the € 5.96 Bhindi Bhaji, an okra dish with plenty of spices though I’m not sure what the difference is between bhaji and masala(see photo). I assume it’s a regional variation as this had a more earthy and less tomato-based flavor. It had plenty of fresh cilantro and scallions on top, and it was a nice contrast. The Boiled Rice was an extra € 2.50, though you need it to sop up the homemade sauce. Diners were beginning to trickle in as I was finishing which was just as well as they had staff who were just shooting the breeze otherwise. Not the owner though as he was on me like ham on rye bringing a whole new level to attentive service. There are lots of Indian options in Dublin, but if you happen to be near the pointless pointy thing, it’s worth a visit for lunch at least. FOOD — 3 stars… a lackluster tandoori chicken followed by a much better okra dish balances out my rating here AMBIANCE — 3.5 stars… clean and empty SERVICE — 4 stars… attentive and(I think) appreciative of the business TOTAL — 3 stars… may improve over time, worth a try
