What’s on offer?
Diwali first opened its doors on Dublin’s George’s Street in 2007. At the beginning of December last year, the owners, Ganesh Prasai and Nabaraj Koirala, opened another branch on Camden Street. Both hailing from different parts of Nepal, their shared vision is to bring an authentic taste of their homeland’s culinary heritage to Dublin diners. In addition to Diwali, the duo also owns Kathmandu Kitchen on Dame Street, established in 2014, which offers a menu similarly inspired by the rich traditions of Indian and Nepalese cuisines.
The menu at Diwali is extensive, catering to diverse tastes with a wide array of options. Signature offerings include dishes cooked in a traditional clay oven, a selection of biryanis, and a variety of Nepalese specialties. The “favourites” section highlights much-loved classics such as butter chicken, korma and vindaloo, while a dedicated vegetarian section ensures ample choice for plant-based diners.
What did we order?
One vegetable Balti, mixed grill, Diwali jhinga masala and pilau rice.
How was the service?
Ordering online is straightforward, and the food was delivered in good time.
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Was the food nice?
Unfortunately, the grills were cold. They included a chicken tikka drumstick and thigh, a lamb chop, a kebab, some cubed pieces of chicken, and two prawns. It looked like much of it was already cooked and a sauce was splashed over. While this may not have been the case, it was not at the level you’d expect. Apart from the kebab, there was not much char from cooking in the tandoor. The chicken did not appear to be good quality.
The Balti, a stir-fried vegetable curry, had plenty of fresh vegetables – green beans, broad beans, carrots and mushrooms in a nice blend of spice and flavours from the onions, garlic, ginger, chillies, turmeric, coriander and tomatoes in the sauce. The pilau rice was nicely cooked. The prawns (jhinga), in a mild coconut based sauce, were overcooked, some to the point of being woolly.
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What about the packaging?
The order arrived in a paper bag. The containers were a mixture of tinfoil, plastic and a foil-lined bag. There is an option to exclude cutlery which is good to see.
What did it cost?
€57.44 for dinner for three people: vegetable Balti, €12.50; mixed grilled, €20; Diwali jhinga masala, €18.95; pilau rice, €3; and delivery fee, €2.99.
Where does it deliver?
Open Mon-Thur, 1pm-10:30pm; Fri-Sat, 1pm-11pm; and Sun and bank holidays, 1pm-10:30pm. Deliveroo within a 5km radius.
Would I order it again?
Probably not. The vegetarian Balti had a nice balance of flavours and the pilau rice was good, but the other dishes were disappointing, in particular the meat and kebabs from the tandoori grill.
