Kari, a sister restaurant of Konkan on Clanbrassil Street and in Dundrum, brings an exciting new Indian flavour to Inchicore in Dublin 8.
Owners Bala Nayak and Nidhi Joshi, the husband-and-wife team behind popular Indian restaurants Konkan in Dublin’s Clanbrassil Street and Dundrum, are delighted to introduce their unique traditional Indian cooking style to Inchicore with the launch of Kari, now open at 205A Emmet Road.
Kari draws its name from Bala’s home in the southern part of India where Kari is what locals call all curries – it means ‘curry’ in the Tamil language. The restaurant’s menu and ethos is based on the couples’ 20 years experience of serving Indian food in Dublin, and also on dishes from India that they themselves enjoy as a family.
Bala said, “Authentic Indian cooking means something different to everyone, as much depends on how you were taught to make certain dishes and what part of India it originated from, so we are cautious about using that word to describe our style of food. For example in the Goan region, the dishes often use coconut as a key ingredient whereas in colder climates of north India, the food would use yoghurt, butter & cream and would traditionally be richer.
We have tried to bring out the best of various Indian regions and still stay true to our origins. We have brought memories into our menu in Kari, something we had wanted to do in Konkan but Konkan has developed its own style. With Kari, we were brave in terms of introducing dishes that may not immediately be recognisable, for example, the Ghassi which is a traditional preparation from my own part of India. It is now one of our most popular dishes.
We make our Biryani the traditional way of using layers of rice and meat and steaming it. It is a long slow process but the flavour is so much better than other quicker ways of making the dish. We are truly passionate about creating good Indian food and we have been so encouraged by the positive response.”
Diners can expect favourites like Jalfrezi, Biryani, and Vindaloo (although prepared in a slightly different way) as well as some lesser-known dishes inspired by classics from the southern and western parts of India. Think Goan specialities like Crab and Prawn Kebabs, Pork Vindaloo and Goan Fish Caldine, along with regional specialities like Cauliflower Ghassi from Mangalore, and Lamb Stew and Kari Chicken Curry from Kerala. All dishes are made with freshly roasted, ground and blended spices each week, and are prepared by chefs with extensive experience in kitchens in India and the Middle East.
Commenting on the opening, Bala says, “We’ve been blown away by the reception and support from customers and local businesses alike since we started working on Kari. We have only just opened and bookings have been incredible, we’ve had such a warm welcome from everyone. We’re so happy to bring a taste of India to the area and already feel that Kari is on its way to becoming an intrinsic part of the fabric of this amazing Dublin community.”
Kari represents the latest offering from the team behind Konkan. Konkan Clanbrassil Street opened in 2004, followed by a second Konkan restaurant in Dundrum in 2011. The focus in both restaurants is on truly fresh ingredients which are used to prepare traditional as well as popular Indian dishes. Exceptional quality ingredients are key for the couple behind Konkan and Kari, so much so that they also developed The Spice Pantry, where they sell spice blends online and through selected artisan stockists.
Kari Indian Restaurant, 205A Emmet Road, Inchicore, Dublin, D08 XW61. For bookings contact 01 549 9221 or book online at www.kari.ie
Open for lunch Friday to Sunday 12 pm to 2.45 pm, and dinner sitting is Wednesday to Sunday 4.30 pm to 10.30 pm. Keep up to date with the latest news by following Kari Indian Restaurant on social @kariinchichore
