Rajdoot - Birmingham

We live in a society that isn’t kind to restaurants.  One that eats them up and spits them out.  One that is so fickle it could be a contestant on Love Island.  A staggering 90% of restaurants in this country fail within the first twelve months. Why? I don’t bloody know, I’m not a restauranteur; I’m an over opinionated twerp with a keyboard. But the ones that I have seen demise with my own eyes have been poorly judged concepts (lobsters), rotten locations (sea food restaurants above Café bloody Rouge) and just bad luck (Comida, you were brilliant and you’ll be back). It almost puts me off my dream of a little Italian restaurant of my own. Almost. The restaurant business is not a lottery, it’s a cleverly thought out line of ticked boxes and processes, as my good friend Barry Sherwin has pointed out to me on many an occasion. And he knows a thing or two about opening these places. So there.

Fantastic. I've been here several times and everything I've had here has been excellent. Highly recommend the duck starter!

Rajdoot in Birmingham has been part of the curry scene for over forty years, and is one of the most established Indian restaurants in the city. Let’s see what this Jewellery Quarter-based restaurant, serving up North Indian cuisine cooked by chefs trained in India, has to offer.

Atmosphere

Stepping into the restaurant, you can’t help but feel yourself relax in this oasis of Eastern calm. Receiving a warm welcome, we were seated on a plump banquette in the reception area with plenty of bombay mix for company. After perusing the menu at our leisure, we ordered our meals before being led to our table in the main restaurant. Featuring exotic art, traditional music and low lighting, the interior is both sumptuous and intimate; perfect for a loved-up meal with a partner.

Food

With poppadums and plentiful amounts of dip arriving before the meal, the Shish Kebab and Gingered Lamb Chops were first up. The lamb shish was spicy and of a good quality, whilst the flavour combinations in the lamb chops were well matched. For our mains we chose Methi Chicken and King Prawn Masalla. My chicken was a heavenly, creamy, smooth-tasting dish full of big hunks of meat. The prawns in tomato sauce had just a hint of a kick.

I love vegetable-based Indian dishes and I’m glad I opted for a side of Bengan Aloo. Rich, flavoursome and buttery, this dish shows that meat can be just an optional extra when the food is prepared so expertly. The Peshwari Naan was a sweet delight and a welcome addition to the meal.

Drinks

Both of us opted for soft drinks on this occasion, but a wide selection of beers and wines are also available. The opulent decor lends itself to sipping on a glass of something indulgent.

Pricing

Shish kebab = £6.95
Gingered Lamb Chops = £7.50

Methi Chicken = £12.50
King Prawn Masalla = £16.80

Bengan Aloo = £6.95
Peshwari Naan = £3.50

Total (two diners) = £54.20

Overall

What marks out Rajdoot from the rest is the ambiance. The traditional, ornate setting is complemented by the low lighting and unhurried service. This is a great place to sit and unwind at the end of the week. Although it is a touch pricey, there is a great set lunch menu and I’d urge you to go green and try a few vegetarian options.

Very good food and lovely interior, service was excellent and although not particularly busy on a midweek night, the general ambience of the place adds to the experience. I had the Chilli chicken garlic, which was delicious bit not particularly hot, my friend had the lamb Rogan Josh which as we shared I would say was the better if the two dishes. Not really cheap if you include the service charge but better than your average curry house.

Marvellous ambience from the moment one enters. Very friendly staff, warm and welcoming. Everything about the interior decoration is beautiful and eye catching. Food is really delicious.. Vegetable biryani, Dal tadka and rasmalai are a must try. Excellent service. Must visit if at Birmingham.

Rajdoot is by far the best curry I've had in many years. The service is impeccable. The lamb I had was so succulent and perfectly spiced. Highly recommended *****

Great food. Loved it. Vegetarian Chili Paneer is hot and yummy. Reminded me of India. A must visit in Birmingham. Enjoy a traditional Indian cuisine made by Indian Chefs.

Nice ambience, well trained staff, amazing royal interiors, quality foods are some of rich features of the restaurant. If you want some classic royal Rajasthani theme on some special occasion, would recommend this restaurant.