Ghazal one of my favorite North Indian restaurants in Johannesburg has opened a third branch in Melrose Arch. Whenever I am in this bustling city, which sadly is not often enough, myself friends and family book a table at the Ghazal in Peter Place in Bryanston. I almost feel as with eating Italian, an evening at Ghazal’s needs to be with a big table of boisterous people, sharing comforting copper pots of curry and breaking naan. All the while using nothing but your hands to scoop every morsel of korma, almost biblical!
This was the first Ghazal which opened in Bryanston in 2002 with a second branch opening in Sunninghill in 2008. It has subsequently won a number of awards including being voted The Best of Joburg numerous times by its devoted and loyal customers, me being one of them.
Its a simple restaurant with amazing service. We are always greeted personally by the owner as is the case for many of the other patrons in an often fully booked dinner venue. Known for their authentic butter chicken and Korma (which they will soon bottle the sauces and sell, Yay) my friends often order these as they are often milder than my personal favorite prawn makhani.
Authentic and beautifully prepared and presented North Indian cuisine has made Ghazal one of Jozi’s most popular Indian establishments with signature dishes such as butter chicken and its famous Korma curries.
Other menu items include juicy chunks of chicken tikka, the rishme kebab or dishes from the tandoor. If you like your Indian with lots of sauce go for the gosht badami (tender and lean lamb in an almond and cream gravy); the vegetarian paneer in a rich butter and tomato gravy; kingklip curry in a spicy and fragrant paste; lamb Makhnie with melt-in-the-mouth pieces of meat in a rich and spiced tomato sauce and Aloo Palak, the potatoes cooked in a green spinach sauce.
There is barely anything on social media, not a Facebook image, nor tweet-these now three eateries are simply filled by word of mouth. A testament to the quality and love so many people have for a delicious dining experience at Ghazals.
Ghazal is open for lunch and dinner seven days a week.
Photography Alida Ryder | For the recipe on how to cook the dish visit http://simply-delicious-food.com/butter-chicken-curry/
