Latest Review stuart, Feb 1st, 2012
Empire is situated on Albany Road, in the beautiful area of Roath in Cardiff. Having only moved from this area last year, I was surprised that I had never ventured in before. The exterior is classy and inviting with large windows and miniature palm trees lining the entrance.
On entering the restaurant my partner and I were greeted by our waiter for the evening and shown to our seats. Looking around, there was a chique, contemporary feel to the place with a wonderful grey and black art deco theme.
The menu was a fusion of traditional Indian cuisine with a contemporary modern twist and included a wide variety of tantalising dishes.
I ordered the Chicken Kufti to start, which was a combination of shredded pieces of chicken mixed with potatoes, egg, fresh coriander and a delicious tamarind spiced sauce. The chicken was beautifully tender and literally melted in mouth, whilst the mixture of potatoes and egg added both depth and richness to the dish. The slightly sour tamarind sauce cut through the richness of this starter beautifully, making it the perfect combination.
My partner opted for the Lamb Chad Puri, which arrived superbly presented on a bed of crisp red and yellow peppers, spring onions and fresh coriander leaves. The pancakes filled with marinated lamb were bursting with flavour and cooked to perfection.
For my main course I had the chicken tikka bhuna special which was recommended by one of the attentive and friendly waiters. This recommendation did not disappoint me in the slightest and was a delicious amalgamation of barbecued chicken with a thick, velvety tomato sauce. In addition I ordered the lemon rice, which is unique to Empire itself. The rice was light and fluffy with a hint of zesty lemon, which complimented the bhuna perfectly.
My partner who regards himself as a connoisseur when it comes to Indian cuisine chose the popular chicken Pasanda and pilau rice, this dish consisted of flattened strips of chicken cooked in a rich, creamy coconut sauce. The sauce itself was delicious and he was pleasantly surprised to taste cumin amongst many other spices including coriander, chilli and cinnamon. The addition of cumin to the sauce gave it a fabulous nutty edge not normally found in the traditional pasanda dish of north India. The pilau rice was vividly golden in colour and was infused with the beautiful perfume and taste of saffron.
Overall we had a delightful dining experience in this contemporary restaurant. The staff were all very welcoming, friendly and attentive and their knowledge of the menu was extensive. The ambience created at Empire was both peaceful and serene. If you’re looking for an oasis of calm serving delicious Indian cuisine then this is the place to visit.
