Andy Mossack gets a taste of the new Mrs Doubtfire and Colonel Saab theatrical dining experience.
With the news that the west end hit musical Mrs Doubtfire is celebrating her first anniversary this month, I was intrigued to hear that top Indian restaurant Colonel Saab has collaborated with the musical to offer a Mrs Doubtfire and Colonel Saab theatrical dining experience.
This was clearly a world first. Fine Indian fare and a fun family musical on the face of it was hardly a match made in heaven, but I was certainly keen to find out.
The first clue I discovered was that there is a Bollywood version of Mrs Doubtfire called Chachi 420. Now this is beginning to make sense, as the colour-changing Chachi 420 gin cocktail available in the 5-course tasting menu is an homage to that version. Two more clues reveal themselves. Both movies are hugely popular in India, and Colonel Saab’s flagship restaurant is just a few minutes’ walk from London’s Shaftesbury Theatre. My case rests. This is indeed a match made in heaven.
But does Colonel Saab pull it off?
Set within the former Holborn Town Hall, a grand turn of the century building with huge chandeliers and Corinthian pilasters it’s bedecked with mementos of owner Roop Partap Choudhary’s Indian family heritage. Even the restaurant is named after his father’s rank in the Indian army.
The Mrs Doubtfire Experience Menu is a five-course set menu which includes the aforementioned Chachi 420 gin cocktail, and an amuse bouche entitled “Help Is On The Way, Dear” a very tasty roasted cumin muffin. (creamy sweet on the outside and and salty inside). Sound like someone?
One choice each of four starters and four mains takes us on the Doubtfire journey. My dining partner picked out the matchmaker starter an absolute belter of a Noor Mahal chicken tikka with a spicy lime dip, while I indulged in my first day as a woman billed as an Anglo-Indian chicken chop: a terrific trio of breaded deep-fried cutlets containing super-soft madras spiced pulled chicken with some crunchy salad and tomato raisin relish. Perhaps a stretch for the story, but who cares when the food is so good!
The mains cued a slice of theatre for us. A very impressive prawn mollee cooked in a light coconut milk curry (effortless elegance) and my butter chicken sunk into a velvety tomato and cashew gravy (Dear’s delight) were triumphantly delivered by a waiter wearing a Doubtfire wig and apron suitably burnt in the chest department as per the show.
I whispered, “I see you drew the short straw then” and he returned a tight smile, clearly doubting his future career prospects as a west end character actor. Nevertheless, it was a touch of comedic theatre that was gratefully received and prompted a round of applause even though the two mains were clearly the headline acts in this performance.
The final act was a choice of two desserts, so naturally we picked one each and shared them. A Drive By Fruit-ing which turned out to be a cheese ice cream with some fresh berries, and Layered in Love, a Bengali style cheesecake which was a sweetened and flavoured yoghurt. Both classic palate cleansers and both Colonel Saab staples.
I think the Shaftesbury Theatre and Colonel Saab have a smash hit on their hands with this collaboration. The food provides an excellent pre-theatre curtain raiser to a fantastically energetic show, while at the same time introducing diners to a taste of Colonel Saab’s fine dining fare at a very reasonable price.
I think I feel an encore coming on….
Tell me more about this Mrs Doubtfire and Colonel Saab theatrical Dining Experience
Diners at Colonel Saab’s flagship Holborn restaurant can choose between the £60, five course and cocktail Mrs Doubtfire Experience Menu or the shorter, two course £35 Mrs Doubtfire Set Lunch Menu, before a four-minute stroll to the show.
Book your dining experience and enjoy £15 off your Mrs Doubtfire theatre tickets. Please note, the discount on theatre tickets is only available when dining at Colonel Saab.
Mrs Doubtfire and Colonel Saab Theatrical Dining Experience tickets are available from the Shaftesbury Theatre, online here.
Colonel Saab Holborn: 193-197 High Holborn, London, WC1V 7BD
