Curry Club is a fun London-style Punjabi eatery with a menu inspired by family recipes infused with new Indian flair. So naturally, Kate Walker gets curried away.
My journey with the Curry Club started many moons ago, in 2018, when they launched a delivery service with a dark kitchen at the German Club in Gardens.
The moment that aromatic brown paper bag landed at my door, I was an instant fan. Six years on, I had the pleasure of sitting down for a meal at their eatery in town, and I’m happy to report that the experience was nothing short of spectacular.
As domesticity took me from the city to the Southern Suburbs, I had not indulged in a Curry Club meal since my debut encounter with their butter chicken and naan.
I left comments on their Instagram posts pleading for them to expand delivery to the sad and spiceless suburbs, but, to this day, they only service the City Bowl and Atlantic Seaboard.
Count your blessings if you live in this holy zone, where fragrant curries and treats are just a click or phone call away.
They’ve got a slick, free delivery operation that will have your curry to you in under 45 minutes to an hour, depending on traffic. Order it online or call it in. Pay cash, card or SnapScan.
There is also the option to collect, which is a prospect you may want to entertain if you live outside the delivery areas. I can vouch that the food will be worth the commute.
If you want to make an occasion of it, visit their delightful digs on 50 New Church Street.
The old heritage house features two beautiful dining rooms and a private dining area in the back. An eclectic mix of art, flickering lights, draped saris and charming hosts make the cosy space a sensory spectacle.
There’s a specials menu that shows off locally sourced ingredients, like fresh swordfish, giant mushrooms, goat and other unusual items you wouldn’t expect to find in a bog-standard curry. But these guys don’t do anything standard.
A squad of chefs from Delhi crafts the aromatic dishes, guided by the enigmatic Mr Ram Singh, the chief saucier from the Himalayas.
Andrew Florenca and Will Hutton conjured up the business idea after spotting a sizable gap in Cape Town for high-end, delivery-only curries. They joined forces with Ron Pereira and the visionary Mr Singh to establish the club and quickly gained a loyal following.
At the Curry Club, it’s all about flavour over firepower. Dishes are served at a medium chilli strength to let the herbs and spices shine. You are, however, able to specify your preferred level of heat by asking for ‘hot’ or ‘mild’.
With a meticulous approach to spice blending and a keen eye for selecting the freshest meats, vegetables and pulses, the kitchen brings magic to each meal, ensuring that it is not only delectable but also balanced and wholesome.
Translation? The food is pinch-yourself good!
I chose the Wild Mushroom Curry from the specials board and the Mighty Madras Lamb Curry from the main menu, and then sipped on my chardonnay and waited for Mr Singh to do his thing.
The mushroom curry was packed with umami comfort and earthy nuances that paired perfectly with the wine. The tomato-based lamb gave an entirely different flavour profile but was just as good and a tad spicier – paired with a garlic naan straight from the tandor – and that was my night made!
Details:
- Location: 50 New Church Street, Gardens
- Contact: 021 300 3971 | bookings@curryclub.co.za | hello@curryclub.co.za
- Online: curryclub.co.za | @curry_club_cpt
- Times
Restaurant: Lunch: Tuesday – Saturday, 1 pm – 3 pm | Dinner: Monday – Saturday, 5 pm – 9:30 pm | Last orders 9:15 pm. The kitchen closes at 9:30 pm
Takeaways: Monday – Saturday, 12:30 pm – 9:30 pm
Deliveries: Monday – Saturday, 5:30 pm – 9:30 pm
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Feature image: Supplied / Michelle Parkin Photography
This article was originally written and published by for Cape {town} Etc.
