The Banana Leaf Apolo (Race Course Road)

OK, the Banana leaf Apolo is a legend in Singapore… and for good reasons.

We had a fish head curry (how to go there without eating it???). The fish was nicely cooked, not overdone at all, and there was plenty of meaty parts on it. yum yum! The sauce was a bit too hot for me (although I am used to spicy food!).

The curry comes with rice and condiments (we had long beans and cabbage, in different sauces, all excellent!), served on a banana leaf. A few months ago, Apolo added a plate underneath the banana leaf, maybe because some Ang Moh tourists use their cutlery (can’t eat with hands!) and it pierces the banana leaf…

We loved the garlic naans!!!! fluffy, hot, crispy in the right places, they are delightful on their own!

A bit of chicken tandoori with all that and the meal was perfect! Nicely charred, spiced to perfection, and still juicy inside.

In order to change from the regular lime juice (everyone seems to be drinking lime juice there!), we took some lassis and they were excellent, killing the spice from the curry and refreshing us from the hot weather.

Definitely a must go!

http://mastertaster.wordpress.com/2012/03/30/the-banana-leaf-apolo-race-course-road/

I am a fan of Banana Leaf & Muttu. Specially when my overseas friends are in town I bring them to Boon Tong Kee for a chicken rice or to Banana Leaf for a Fish Head Curry. I have been patronising Banana leaf for years and everytime I go, I realise price is increased. They keep increasing the price. But the good thing is food is tasty.

For full review and pictures, please visit knockonfood

We ordered a lot but many didn't impress, neither did the price tag. Their Tandoori Chicken was dry, the Naan was served cold and tough and I thought the Fish Head Curry that we had was normal. Their Mutton Masala and Butter Chicken were brighter spots in the dinner though, the mutton didn't taste gamey and was nicely seasoned while the Butter Chicken sauce goes very well with rice. 

A pretty unmemorable meal served on what looked like re-used banana leafs. We had the Mutton Masala, Prawn Masala, Chicken Tikka Masala, Garlic Naan and Dum Mutton Biriyani - it was all very fatty and blandish in taste. If you're craving Indian style food I'd recommend Bismillah Biriyani @ Dunlop Street, Murugan's Idli Shop @ Syed Alwi Road or Mustard (only 50 meters from Banana Leaf).

Had dinner at this place with some of my friends who mentioned that this place serves one of the best indian food in Singapore.

However, i find it pretty average and standard. They have the aircon dining area and the outdoor ones. Nothing leaves an impression for me. Price wise is not too expensive too. It works similarly like a coffee shop in my opinion and so i am not expecting much service and ambience from this place too.

WE are not living far away from that place but I have to say that because it looks like a cantine and because the restaurant is so big that it always look 80% emplty we were never really tempted to step in. Finally we did!

On the menu you have a great choice among North Indian and South Indian cuisine. The food really tastes nice and was fresh. I would recommend. 20$/person

If I had to

turn to anyone place to ease my cravings for Indian food, it would be at Banana

Leaf Apollo. Despite it’s simple décor and setup a kin to a canteen of sorts.

The presence of many local Indians dining in gave a silent reassurance.

We were

quick to order despite the extensive list of dishes and grills on the menu.

After a quick perusal, we settled on the mutton hyderbad ( $11), the butter

chicken ($11) and the Palak Paneer ($8) to share. Alongside, we ordered a lime

juice ( $2.50) and a peach lassi ( $4.50), the former in the hope of battling

the spicy dishes and the latter to sweeten the deal. Our dishes were quickly

served up. And as they sat on the table picking up the cold winds from the

surrounding air conditioning; along scuttled a waiter with 3 metal tins cans of

condiments or side dishes and a whole basket of briyani rice. Word of advice:

Take your fill of cabbage as the waiters will usually be too busy to come by

for a refill later in the meal. And trust me, with that amazing texture and

subtle spices thrown into the mix, it was amazing with the fragrant yellow dyed

rice.

The mutton

hyderbad was just okay. Flavors of coconut and tamarind were strongly present

throughout the dish, my only gripe would be the use of mutton with loads of

tendons in place of slow braised mutton chunks. Pardon my lack of knowledge of

Indian food, but I would much prefer having tinier chunks of meat than having

the tedious experience of separating tendon from meat with every mouth. The

butter chicken fared much butter, but could have used a more generous ladling

of butter into the mixture as the tomato paste overruled all with it’s tangy

and slightly acidic flavors. The highlight of the meal would definitely have to

be the palak paneer, Spinach with cottage cheese, cooked to a consistency of

baby food. My dining companion was so fond of this dish that he reminisces the

experience and associates the whole meal only based on this dish the whole

time!

Next time

around, I’m bent on having the fish head curry.

P.S. watch

our for the diabetic inducing lassi… *sniggers*

Ambience/Setting

Nothing extraordinary about the place, it looks like a cantina but it’s what makes the charm somehow.

 

Food & Beverage

Their bryani rice (yellow rice mixed with some vegetables and spices) is a must; do not take the plain white rice!

We ordered a set of different meals: chicken bryani, lamb, potato cakes and some other chicken sets. The chicken was all good whatever the sauce but I was a bit disappointed with the lamb which was really too dry. The little potato cakes were melting in my mouth and I ordered some more.

The Mango Lassi was delicious and helped to fight again the spiciness of the food (although I had much spicier in some places so this one is average)

 

 

Value

Good value overall if you compare with some other Indian Restaurants in Little India.

American express card holders get a 10% discount.

 

Service

The waiter was really nice and helped us choosing some different dishes even though the place was going to close.

 

I liked: The lassi and the potatoe cakes

I disliked: The lamb

 

Edit: I went back there recently. VERY DISAPOINTING! Food wasn't that good, chicken Masala wasn't tender and with bones, they where in a rush to serve us without caring what we would like to order. Like last time there was no menu but the final bill cost twice the amount than last time! That is 40SGD. The butter chicken, one of my favorites was the worse I had in Singapore, and it cost me 11SGD, not worth it at all. And they brought a Milk Tea we didn't order and charged us for it of course...

So I'm shifting my recommendation to the opposite. Not going there anymore.

Had this curry craving for 2 days...

Went down to this place...

Ordered a Apollo Fish Head Curry...

Came the Assam Fish Head Curry... period...

Not my cup of curry...

Nice chandelier (like Raffles Hotel) though...

went there twice recently. grew up on this stuff but hadn't eaten for a few years.

went back to the restaurant on race course road and wow, it has become quite a tourist magnet. one taxi after another kept unloading tourists.

the ambience hasn't changed that much. still comfortable family dining on long tables. great place to bring a crowd.

good old banana leaves appeared instead of plates.

had my usual chicken masala. dry mutton curry, fish cutlets and chilli crabs. the food has never been refined. but that is the beauty of it. really tasty and greasy comfort food. your favourite auntie could have cooked it.  loved every mouthful. all drowned down with lime juice. you gotta stop the waiters from piling on the rice though....

 

this is not the place for service. it's a noisy restaurant. not the most refined food but i'd still go back coz it made my belly happy.