Finaghy special focus
D
iners are spoiled for choice when they
decide to visit the vibrant Lisburn Road
for a meal, and many times I have had
arguments with my partner or family members
over how I would like to visit a new restaurant
instead of our usual spots. SarpN Group
Restaurant, nestled just beside the Finaghy
crossroads, provided the perfect opportunity for
me to experience cuisine I have never had the
pleasure of enjoying before.
My companion and I entered the restaurant
on a damp Tuesday evening, and were
greeted by open and welcoming staff. Seated
by the window, we had an enjoyable view
of the bustling main road outside, and were
presented with a plate of light papadums and a
selection of dipping sauces, each varied in their
spice content (the yoghurt dip was a personal
favourite of mine). The restaurant’s menu was
extensive and varied, with a range of Indian,
Nepalese (SarpN being the first restaurant in
Northern Ireland to serve Nepalese cuisine) and
European dishes – there was something to cater
for everyone’s tastes.
With a plan to try dishes I was unfamiliar
with, I decided to peruse the Nepalese menu,
and was faced with a wide selection of dishes
of varying spice. After ordering our food, my
companion and I took in our surroundings. The
décor provided a warm and cosy environment;the perfect setting in contrast to the slightly
inclement conditions outside. Music played
softly in the background, and despite the
gradual bustle of the restaurant, the aura of
the room was still relaxed and private. The
restaurant’s manager, Narayan, took the time
to come over for a chat about our choice of
meals, informing me that the Nepalese dishes
were developed using authentic and traditional
recipes, stemming from his own Nepalese
heritage.Our starters were presented to us promptly
and we dug in, grateful for hot food on such
a dull, wet evening. My Nepalese starter
was the Chicken Momo, which are steamed
dumplings filled with minced chicken. The
care and precision involved in the making of
the dumplings was obvious, and they were
aesthetically pleasing as well as being totally
delicious. The accompaniment of a hot chilli
sauce gave an unexpected kick to the dish, and
was a spicy foil to the mildness of the dumplings.
For his starter, my companion chose the
Tandoori Mix – a selection of tandoori chicken,
chicken tikka, lamb tikka and seekh kebab. As
someone who recently underwent surgery, my
companion was advised by doctors to not eat
spicy food, and the tandoori mix was the perfectoption for him, as well as for anyone who feels
a little tentative around spice. The meat in the
mix was tender and the nature of tandoori-style
cooking gave the dish a smoky flavour. The
portions of the starter were big enough that we
were able to try each other’s dish, while also not
feeling too full ahead of our mains.
I opted for another Nepalese dish for my
main, a popular recipe in Nepal called Choyla.
Compared to other Nepalese dishes on the
menu, such as the Nepalese Chilli, Choyla is
quite tame in terms of heat, but by no means
less flavoursome. Served with homemade
Nepali spice, green chillis and peppers,
tomatoes, onions, and coriander, the dish can
be cooked with king prawns, chicken or lamb.
I decided on the king prawns, which were
sweet against the slight heat of the sauce that
enveloped them.
While I chose Nepalese cuisine, my
companion followed a different route and chose
Rogan Josh, a staple of Indian cuisine. The dish
can be served with a variety of meats and there
is also a vegetarian option. Garnished with
blended tomatoes, onions and coriander, and
served with a creamy sauce, Rogan Josh is the
perfect choice for diners who prefer a milder
meal. Both dishes were served with pilau rice,
and we shared a generous plate of garlic naan
bread. The meals were truly a taste sensation,
and our taste buds were engulfed in the flavours
for the remainder of the evening.
By the time we left the restaurant, the room
was filled with diners sitting down for meals,
or patiently waiting for their takeaway orders- impressive for a Tuesday evening. SarpN is
clearly a popular, standout member of the
eclectic mix of restaurants that make up the
Lisburn Road, and I look forward to visiting
again to taste more of the restaurant’s authentic
Nepalese cuisine.
SarpN Group Restaurant
128 Upper Lisburn Rd,
Belfast BT10 0BE
028 9060 0100
sarpngroup.co.ukA NEw TASTE
ExpLoRATioN
ULSTER TATLER’S
HannaH Reilly
ViSiTS SaRpn GRoup
ReSTauRanT in
FinaGHy, BelFaST.210“
The décor
provided a
warm and cosy
environment; the
perfect setting
in contrast to the
slightly inclement
conditions outside.
”