It was a tragedy when PR Masala closed its doors. The restaurant has served as a family favourite for as long as I can remember.

Luckily, the void was not there for long and Monal took over and opened its doors in December.

The interior hasn’t changed since PR Masala – and that’s no bad thing! They’ve kept the no-frills approach which creates a sense of accessibility, perfect for a casual meal with family or friends. Monal also offers the same comfortable and welcoming atmosphere, with a very professional and formal service – the doors are opened for you when you enter and a firm handshake is given with your farewell.

Both Cobra and Kingfisher beer are available on draft at £5.50 each. ✅

My son ordered a mango lassi. The presentation of the lassi wasn’t up to much but he did get a full pint 👍

Papadums

We ordered pappadums, which arrived warm and crisp, accompanied by four chutneys in a rotating tray. This not only ensures generous portions but also makes it easier to share (with minimal mess).

The mango chutney seemed unassuming at first. However, it delivered a surprisingly fresh and tangy flavor. Accompanying it were a lovely lime pickle and a particularly good onion salad. The onion salad was finely chopped with a refreshingly juicy and crunchy texture. It really stood out from other examples at other restaurants which can often feel rushed and half hearted. A subtle hint of spice added another layer of flavour, making it enjoyable in its own right and a unique take on the classic dish, while still complementing the other chutneys.

The yogurt had an almost fluorescent green colour, similar to mushy peas. This was credited to the mint flavour that lightly came through on the palette. I have no idea how they managed to get it so bright, though my initial inkling would be food colouring, perhaps? Either way, it had a nice thick texture with a lovely yoghurt and mint taste. I can’t fault delivery.

Tandoori mixed grill

My son ordered the tandoori mixed grill. All tandoori dishes at Monal are marinated with garam masala, yogurt, lemon juice, garlic, and ginger; then grilled in a clay oven.

His dish was served on a sizzling hot plate with tandoori chicken, sheek kebab, chicken & lamb tikka, with a plain naan bread. This is then served with salad and mint sauce on the side.

The tandoori mixed grill looked vibrant and exciting, with beautiful red colours from the marination process. This was beautifully presented alongside pops of green from spring onions and a side yogurt that is served as part of the dish. The tandoori chicken and sheek kebab stood out from the pack as big tender cuts of succulent meat. Needless to say, the plate was clean by the end of the meal.

Vindaloo

As it was my first time at Monal, I ordered my usual dish to benchmark the quality of the restaurant – the chicken vindaloo, with mushroom rice and saag aloo.

The vindaloo had a beautiful earthy colour, with more spring onions for a colourful and crispy garnish. The portion size was decent too, especially when you consider the generous amount of chicken in the curry.

The curry itself had a nice fiery kick but lacked the intense flavour that the vindaloo is known for. With that said, the flavour was well balanced, it just felt a little washed. The mushroom rice was earthy with a hearty flavour but it also complimented the lightness of the well executed saag aloo beautifully.

The chicken in the vindaloo was served in large chunks, making its tenderness stand out. I really like this idea and definitely prefer it to smaller chicken pieces. I would love to see this in more restaurants.

Madras

My father had the chicken madras. It had a very similar presentation as my vindaloo (yup, with spring onions) only with a slightly lighter colour. I wasn’t able to taste this dish myself but it was well received by my dad, who is a seasoned veteran with madrases.

Conclusion

My family and I had a thoroughly enjoyable evening at Monal. Not only do I think that it is a worthy replacement for PR Masala but I prefer their style of curry. The large chunks of chicken in the curry are a nice touch and the papadum sauces stood out as a significant improvement. The only thing I missed from PR Masala is the after dinner hot towels.

Read my review of PR Masala  and see what you think.

Which one do you prefer?

Where should it go in my St Ives Indian ranking?

Thanks for reading!