Restaurant Review - Makani

My co-worker and I went out for lunch and he decided to introduce me to a place called Makani. He warned me that he thought the place was good, but nothing fancy. The restaurant is located in the Sulaimania district and they have other locations.

The inside looks like a small fast food joint with plain tables and chairs. However, do not be fooled; the food makes up for the vanilla design. We ordered some naan (Indian bread) as a starter and each ordered a soup. My co-worker ordered the lentil soup, which was a generous portion and which he dearly enjoyed. I ordered a tomatoe soup. The tomatoe soup was lacking salt and a little bland, maybe deliberately to allow you to add your own. After adding salt to my liking, the soup was great.

For the main entree we shared an order of Chicken Tika Masala and Sobzi Paolo (a type of biryani). The sobzi paolo rice was fluffy and fresh with mixed vegetables, while the tika masala looked like grilled chicken pieces marinated in a thick tomatoe sauce. The food was outstanding: the chicken tika masala was rich with taste (and without doubt calories), and the rice was an excellent accompaniment. The food can be heavy on the stomach from the rice and the spices; though surely you won't complain lest your partner take the last portions while you are blabbing away.

Be warned that Makani does not skimp on portions and their prices are similar to those your Grandmother would reminisce about. The soup will run you 5 or 6 SAR, the sobzi paolo rice 12 SAR and the tika masala 16 SAR, and that will feed two to three people. The food was more than enough for the both of us and we are by far not petite.

If you haven't tried Makani, you will not be disappointed. And if my review is as bad as Zagat and my recommendation perfectly wrong, you will only have lost around 30 SAR on a meal for two. Try Makani, don't be cheap (leave should be left for their prices).

Rating: 7.5 out 10 Hilals