Citylife in Lichfield November 2021

Steeped in Tradition
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By Kristen Lackajis
Being the longest-established Indian restaurant in Lichfield is quite some claim to fame, so
we went along to discover more about The Bengal which first opened its doors in 1968.
The Bengal, situated under the gabled archways of Bore Street, is easy to overlook. Its exterior is
modest and, being somewhat hidden under the tudor building atop of it, it’s easy to miss the restaurant’s
signage… but don’t be fooled. This is a small restaurant with a big offering!
Go up a flight of stairs and you enter what I think of as a more traditional Indian restaurant. It’s cosy
and welcoming, with ambient coloured lighting along one wall, a beautiful fish tank separating the waiting
area from the main dining area, and a well-stocked bar area too. After being greeted warmly we were
shown to our table and left to peruse the extensive menu, which features so much choice that we took
quite some time deliberating… whilst enjoying a drink and the classic poppadoms with accompaniments.
Having been around for the last 50-odd years, you would have thought that The Bengal had seen a
myriad of owners come and go over the time. However, we learned that the original owner only retired
two years ago, and it was taken over by a friend of his who is still very much in contact with him today.
They kept the original name of the restaurant too, to honour its history and reputation for excellence.
For our starters, I chose something a little big different. As a fish lover, I usually opt for a prawn puree
and, whilst this was on the menu, I decided to ‘live a little’ and try something I’d not had before. My
choice was King Prawn Asanok – a delicately spiced dish consisting of succulent and juicy king prawns
smothered in onions, peppers, tomatoes and herbs. It was absolutely delicious – not too spicy, but
certainly had a little heat to it.
My partner chose a Mixed Tikka Kebab, with lamb, chicken and sheikh meat, and was highly impressed
with the amount he received. With our first courses well and truly devoured, we moved on to the star
of the show.
I love my Indian food lightly spiced – I don’t mind heat, but I find anything too spicy and I simply can’t taste the flavours. So, I tend to always opt for
a mild to medium dish. The one which really caught my eye in this instance was the Badami – cooked with almonds in a mild sauce with fresh cream,
it sounded delicious and I went for the King Prawn option – naturally! It was perfect! Soft, slightly sweet and with a real depth of flavour.
My partner, on the other hand, likes things pretty hot, more along the Madras scale. His favourite is a Chicken Jalfrezi however, on recommendation
of the waiter, he also thought he’d branch out and tickle his tastebuds with something a bit different. He had a Chicken Kala Mirch which is cooked
extensively with hot chilli paste, fresh spinach and herbs and spices. He was not disappointed! It had the heat he craved, but was also juicy and aromatic.
We teamed our mains with a mushroom pilau rice, a beautifully fluffy cheese and garlic nan bread, and a favourite of ours – Mattar Paneer – Indian
cheese and peas cooked in mild spices.
Everything was absolutely divine and, if you’ve never been, this hidden gem is most definitely worth a visit. If you’re after great food, cooked to
traditional recipes, in an intimate setting, then The Bengal really is one not to miss!
Find out more, or look at the menu, at www.thebengallichfield.com.
Dining Out - A City of Flavours