iMasticate

The Paprika Club and Restaurant is tucked away in an unusual spot next to a large traffic intersection and across the road from a vaccuum store in Osborne Park. I spotted an awesome $39 Scoopon which was great value, but I’ll also list the regular prices where possible.

Hidden away next to a busy main road

We were the first diners to arrive at 6.30pm on a Wednesday evening, so we had the waitress’s full attention. Service throughout the night was very friendly and quite prompt. The main issue with the restaurant is cleanliness - despite the pretty decor, our tablecloth had a few large (and gross) food stains and spots. It honestly seemed like the tablecloths had not been removed and washed. Also, the floor needed a sweep to collect the debris from previous diners.

Early and eager to dine-in

Despite these initial shortcomings, we were keen to pick our two mains and two desserts from the menu as our shared entrée plate was being prepared. The menu is quite extensive and offers a range of chicken, lamb, beef, seafood, and vegetarian options.

Shared entrée for two people (not available on usual menu)

This tasting plate was unique to our Scoopon deal and featured four popular selections. The tandoori chicken had an amazing smoky flavour throughout the meat, but was a tad overcooked and dry around the edges. Nevertheless, still one of the better ones that I’ve tasted. Our delicious deep-fried pieces were served with a side of mind chutney, which was refreshing and zesty. The Samosas (triangular pastries) were properly filled with potato and peas, and the Vegetable Pakoras and Onion Bhaji were crispy golden-brown fritters with interesting mixes of spices. A generous serving of tasty morsels, but they could probably work on the garnish and presentation.

Palak Paneer ($17.50)

I love paneer (cottage cheese) so it was a top priority as we decided on our mains. Palak Paneer consists of cottage cheese cubes in a thick sauce of pureed spinach and spices. The dish sounds and looks quite gross, but it tastes amazing when it’s done properly. The Paprika Club does it right, with a rich sauce and plenty of cheese inside, yum!! It only had a mild chilli kick to it, but I guess they have to cater to the local tastebuds…

Lamb Madras ($22.50)

We also selected a lamb curry so satisfy our carnivorous side! My friend scoped out the Lamb Madras which is described as medium hot, and we requested that ours be hot. The dish had plenty of meat cubes and a lovely creamy sauce with hints of coconut. While we really enjoyed it, we were disappointed because the sauce was again very mild.

Butter Naan ($4.50)

The butter naan (flatbread) was very tasty and a hearty serving. Use the bread to mop up all the lovely sauce and to roll up chunks of meat. Mmmmm…

Plain Steamed Rice (serves 2, $6)

The steamed basmati rice was fragrant and with a hint of cumin. It may seem simple, but it’s important to get the basics rights.

Pistaccio Kulfi ($6)

We enthusiastically ordered both flavours of kulfi (traditional Indian icecream) listed on the dessert menu. The pistaccio kulfi tasted milky and mild, which seemed a strange contrast to the sugary raspberry syrup drizzled on the plate.

Mango Kulfi ($6)

The mango kulfi was creamy but sweeter than the pistaccio flavour. I particularly enjoyed it with the thick mango syrup. These are small servings, so I wouldn’t normally be keen to pay $6 for each plate. However, we savoured the happy end to our meal, giddy with the exceptional value from the Scoopon!

Summary 
Likes: service with a smile, generous servings

Dislikes: grubby tablecloth and floor, lack of spiciness

Value for money: great value with my Scoopon, otherwise still reasonable

Overall: a quality Indian restaurant in a weird location

Contact
Address:
267 Scarborough Beach Rd (Main St intersection)
Osborne Park WA

(08) 9242 1243

www.paprikaclub.com.au