Balaka

Frommer's Review

This Indian and International restaurant, in the heart of St. Andrews, has won a number of local culinary awards for its savory cuisine, which has done much to wake up the taste buds of the local populace. The Balaka is a celeb favorite, drawing such luminaries as Sean Connery (Scotland's favorite son), Arnold Palmer, and even the king and queen of Malaysia. Behind a facade of gray Scottish stone, the restaurant lies in a .4-hectare (1-acre) garden that is planted with vegetables, flowers, and herbs, all of which are used by the kitchen staff. (The flowers, of course, are used only for decoration.) The Rouf family is exceptionally hospitable and will explain menu items as you sit at crisp white tablecloths, smelling the perfumed roses on your table. Homegrown coriander, fresh spinach, spring onions, and mint, among other ingredients, figure into many of the recipes. Start, perhaps, with a samosa, a spicy ground beef or vegetable pastry, and follow with such delights as green herb chicken with spring onions, garlic, and freshly chopped coriander with tomato. Masfbangla is another justifiably local favorite -- Scottish filet of salmon marinated in lime juice and flavored with turmeric, green chile, and other palette-pleasing spices.

Note: This information was accurate when it was published, but can change without notice. Please be sure to confirm all rates and details directly with the companies in question before planning your trip.

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