Here we go with Sula again for this years Dine-Out Vancouver festival (from Jan 21st to Feb 8th). You have heard me have differing opinions about DOV over the years, which has been both positive and negative. I would say earlier on, around 15+ years ago, DOV was not exactly a draw for me. The menus were mediocre and we weren't really get good value (since portion sizes were small and the dishes were not appealing). I would say in more recent years, restaurants have taken it more seriously and the menus have been much better as well as the food. Of course that has coincided with increasing prices across the board. If we look at Sula's DOV $45.00 5-course menu, this would qualify as one of the better values. It includes choice of appetizer, palate cleanser, main (includes rice & naan), dessert and chai.
Choices for the appetizers include the Tandoori Pineapple Chaat, Chicken Tikka Bao and Sesame Garlic Fried Cauliflower. Although the dish was essentially charred cubes of fresh pineapple, the Tandoori Pineapple Chaat was so refreshing and truly appetizing. Sweet and juicy, the pineapple was beautifully charred giving caramelized with smoky vibes. This was further enhanced by the wheat papdi. It added a light crunch that was the perfect foil for the juicy pineapple. With chaat spices and accompanying herbs, we got the usual earthiness combined with tangy, sweet and herbaceousness.
Probably the most filling appetizer was the Chicken Tikka Bao as it was a large steamed bun stuffed with shredded chicken tikka, cucumber, red onion, cilantro aioli and tandoori aioli. Beyond the fluffy bun, the chicken tikka was tender and moist with a good amount of spice (not heat) and mild tomato tanginess. Naturally, the cucumber and onion provided some fresh and vibrant crunch while the aiolis added creaminess. In particular, the cilantro aioli did its herbaceous thing. The Sesame Garlic Fried Cauliflower was solid with crispy florets that were cooked all the way through but not being soft. The crispy batter remained as such despite the coating of sauce. It was appealing being tangy and sweet.
In between the appetizer and entree courses, we were presented with a palate cleanser in the Wildberry Sorbet. It isn't often we get this at an Indian restaurant and it was literally a refreshing change. Light and sweet, this helped us get ready for the heavier dishes. There are special cocktails ($14.00 each) available for the Dine Out menu and we had 2 of them including the Bombay Blue and the Lemongrass Lyric. With a pronounced liquorice essence due to the star anise-infused Bombay Sapphire, this also had elements of red apple and lemon. The sweetness of the lychee meshed well with the bright lemongrass with the Lemongrass Lyric. Really nice cocktails that helped bring the heaviness down a notch.
For the mains, one can choose from Mango Chicken Korma, Kolkata Lamb, Mushroom Coconut Curry and Paneer & Green Beans Biryani. Sweet and aromatic, the chicken in the mango korma was in big tender chunks. They were juicy despite being white meat. The nuttiness of cashews came through in both aromatic as well as texture (making the curry thick).
With large chunks of meat, the Kolkata Lamb was full of rich spices that were earthy, fall-tasting and spicy. I asked for this one to be extra hot and it definitely was, yet at the same time, wasn't overwhelming. The sweetness of the onions and bite for the ginger were evident. The lamb was tender with that unmistakable gelatinous texture. It was definitely lamb-tasting with an appealing gaminess (for me at least).
For me, the best option for the mains happened to be vegetarian. Creamy and rich, the Coconut Mushroom Curry was a flavour bomb that hit all the right notes. The combination of coconutty aromatics and sweetness with the earthiness of the mushrooms gave out strong umami vibes. Salt levels were just right as well as the sweetness. Combined with the choice of naan (this went well with the just the plain one), this was a fulfilling dish.
Another vegetarian option is the Paneer and Green Beans Biryani. Naturally, without any meat, the rice was less robust and ate almost fluffier. It wasn't devoid of spice though as it was earthy with some heat. Loved the cubes of squishy paneer as it added body to the dish and the green beans were soft and almost juicy. This came with some a spicy and creamy peanut salan to kick up the richness and aromatics of the Biyani while the raita on the side cooled things down.
All of the meals included a choice of Basmati Rice or Coconut Rice as well as a choice of Tandoori Naan, Garlic Naan or Onion & Cilantro Naan. Naan was great as it was fluffy with elasticity while the outside was nicely charred and blistered. In addition to dessert, a cup of Rose Chai was served as well. It was fragrant and purposefully sweet.
Desserts include a choice of Macha Rasmalai Cake or Classic Coconut Payasam. Although the sponge cake was on the firmer side, the Macha cake ate quite well. It was not overly sweet and was rather aromatic. Really enjoyed the payasam as the rice pudding was creamy with measured rich sweetness from the jaggery. Definitely could taste the cardamom and also the sweetness of the fried raisins on top. Nice textural contrast with that and the cashews. Overall, the meal was delicious and well-priced considering how many items that were included. I would do the Coconut Mushroom Curry all day, even if it didn't have meat. Shockingly, the Tandoori Pineapple Chaat was my favourite appie. So no meat to be seen in my meal. If you do that combination and you have a heartier appetite, you might best stick with at least one meat dish. Be aware that the Dine Out menu is different at all Sula locations. This particular one is only for Commercial Drive.
*All food and beverages were complimentary for this blog post*
The Good:
- Well-priced
- The menu includes enough food and sides
- Delicious
The Bad:
- Not that it wasn't any good, but unless you are vegetarian, best not to get the Biryani as it is mainly rice and then it includes more rice and naan
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