Jharna

The Jharna Restaurant, which opened in 1992, is located on Belfast's bustling Lisburn Road, and has firmly established itself as one of our most reputable and best-known Indian restaurants. With this in mind, I decided that a visit on a bitterly cold winter's evening would be just the ticket to eliminate those January blues.

 

My companion and I arrived early on a Saturday evening to find the restaurant, which is located on the first floor, busy with people who were clearly enjoying the warm and welcoming atmosphere. It was obvious from the wide range of diners, that The Jharna has built up a loyal fan base - a popular choice for families, couples and social gatherings alike. We were seated beside a roaring and interesting ‘fire feature' in the middle of the restaurant, which added to the overall unique ambience.

Our waitress provided us with the extensive food menu and wine list but strangely we had to wait until our order was taken before the complimentary poppodums arrived on the table. My companion and I took time to absorb the exciting array of Indian and Tandoori dishes on offer. The delectable range of starters included Piri Piri Seafood Kebab, Prawn And Chilli Cake, Pakora and Onion Bhajee. The mixed Tandoori starter seemed perfect to share. We opted for and enjoyed the tasty combination of Chicken Tikka, Chicken Tandoori, Seekh Kebab and Tandoori Jumbo Prawns, which was perfectly complemented with a delicious coriander and mint chutney.

The long queue of people waiting in the cosy bar area for tables, confirmed my initial impression of The Jharna, as a restaurant that takes pride in producing quality, genuine and authentic Indian cuisine. The extensive mains menu offers everything you would expect in a traditional Indian restaurant. The Tandoori dishes included Murg Tikka and Sheek Kebab. The chef's recommendation's section of the menu really caught my eye offering with the Chettinad Chicken and Murg Rani appearing particularly tantalising. The barbecued tikka and biryani dishes were extremely appealing with the more traditional Indian dishes on offer here. These included Chicken Tikka Masala, Chicken Tikka Balti and Dopiaza. The menu also caters for seafood and vegetarian lovers and has a substantial sides, bread and rice selection.

A crisp white Sauvignon Blanc accompanied our meal; Vidal from the Marlborough Estate, New Zealand, while my companion enjoyed a Tiger beer along with his curry.

My companion and I found it very difficult to choose from the diverse and varied selection of genuine Indian cuisine. I couldn't help but revert back to the chef's recommendation's page and eventually I settled for Chicken Jalfrezi Jharna style with pilau rice. I was delighted with my choice as I found the chicken was beautifully spiced and the combination of onions, mushrooms, tomato and fresh coriander really complemented this dish.

My companion couldn't resist trying the Murgi Chicken Tikka Masala with steamed rice. He commented on the freshness of the ingredients used in his meal and he thoroughly enjoyed every bit. To accompany our main we ordered a tasty peshwari naan, and bread and potato and cauliflower Aloo Gobi, both of which were simply delicious.

We decided to skip desserts, ordering coffees, and sitting back, socking up the atmosphere and buzz of a Saturday evening in The Jharna. We both looked forward to a return visit. From Monday - Thursday the restaurant has a two course early bird special from 5.30 p.m. to 7 p.m., priced at a reasonable £12.95 per person.

The Jharna
133 Lisburn Road
Belfast
BT9 7AG
Tel: 028 9038 1299