This review appears in the September issue of Bite Magazine, and can be found online here.
A glance at Ignite’s website reveals that they are located at the Haymarket end of Morrison Street, so the Silver Fox and I calibrated co-ordinates and pointed our appetites west-wards. Ignite is in the modern style of Indian restaurants with a warm modern décor and an efficient front of house brigade.
They specialise in Bangladeshi and North Indian dishes, and the menu features plenty of familiar fare, alongside some less predictable dishes. They also boast an ambitious wine and Champagne list which offers both Krug and Cristal, along with a good selection of lagers. The richness of Indian food often invokes sleepiness in me, and whilst we had every intention of ‘ordering light’ a combination of tempting choices, and convincing recommendations soon had a mountain of food heading our way.
To nibble, we began with some crispy papadams, chutneys and a fresh onion pickle (£2.95), followed by starters. We ordered the super-cute baby aubergine pakora (£3.75), and a selection of mixed kebab (£5.50). The pakora were excellent, each mouthful combined the softly cooked centres and the spiced crunchy batter. The mixed kebab with their salad garnish present and correct, comprised grilled chicken breast and lamb, and the ‘flavour winner’ made with minced lamb and packed with zingy coriander.
Apart from of featuring one seabass dish, the seafood section didn’t extend beyond the ubiquitous king prawn, which was a shame. Instead, we opted for Maracel chicken (I thought rather pricey at £12.50) and the Ceylon with lamb (£10.50). These were accompanied by textbook-perfect fluffy pilau rice, and the peshwari naan (both £3.25) which was lightly blackened on the outside and stuffed with coconut and sweet raisins. With their reddish hue, both sauces looked similar, however the layers of convincing , punchy tastes were well defined. The lamb’s sauce a little more garlicky, coconut-y and with heat, The Maracel sauce on the sweeter scale, with chunks of bell peppers and onions. Both were delicious with tender bites of meat.
We couldn’t manage dessert, which seemed to mostly be of the pre-made frozen type anyway, so with full bellies (and a take-home doggie bag), we left behind Ignite’s warm vibe, and headed home to swap the pilau for our pillows.
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