Gulshan, Rylands
Call
Hours
10:00 - 22:00 Monday to Saturday
9:00 - 22:00 Sunday
Cuisine
Indian
Halaal
Muslim Owned
Price Range (p/p)
Cheap | Under R100
Medium | R100 - R300
Updated: 26-01-2022
Rylands in Cape Town is much like a scaled down version of India. Klipfontein road being the essence of a busy Bombay street anytime of the day. So it’s no surprise that you’ll find no less than three Indo-Pak cuisine inspired restaurants in this scant 40 square km neighbourhood. Two of them are from the Bismillah group and the menus are very similar. More recently, with the opening of the new Rylands Village shopping centre, a third restaurant called Gulshan has opened.
Now you’d ask, how much can you re-invent an Indian menu? And I’d have to agree that unless you can find a new spin on the offering, this can be rather challenging. Gulshan seems to have a slightly more polished act than the other two. I daresay, just slightly. The restaurant feels a bit brighter, and the booth seating a bit more inviting. While it feels a bit fresher the use of maroon and gold in the décor still brings home the traditional feel.
On the menu are all the usual suspects. A vast array of Indian Kormas and Curries, Tandoories and Grills, Manchurian Sizzlers and Asian noodle dishes. They did have a point of difference though. Something I have yet to see at any of the other menus. Sheeps Brains Curry! Not for the faint hearted! It is definitely an acquired taste. I personally am not a fan of eating sheeps brains, I always found it too much like way too soft scrambled eggs. This is a first time I’ve had it as a curry. It’s actually not bad this way but I wouldn’t order it. My husband on the other hand absolutely loved it. He grew up eating sheeps brains and this was rekindling memories for him. It’s quite hot and spicy and the naans went very well with it. Give it a go if you have a sense of adventure. Else, stick to the suspects previously mentioned. If you like Indian veggies I also spotted Bhindi (Lady Finger) Masala, and Karela with Potato.
The Mansooriyan Chicken I had was hot, spicy and a bit sweet. I quite enjoyed it. We had ordered crumbed chicken nuggets and chips for Taufeeq from the kids menu. These were dry and tasted like they came out of a box and I sent them back. They were replaced without a hassle. We also ordered a cheese and aloo paratha, which was quite spicy. It’s also very filling and could make a light meal on it’s own, which at R30 would make a cheap lunch. Most of the curries average R70 to R80, with the Brains Masala at R110.
The general atmosphere is casual. Service is of the typical Indo-Pak variety with young male pakistani waiters tending to your needs. They have an adjoining section which can be used for small functions and also serves as a salaah area.
Most disappointed. the lamb breyani was obvious mutton breyani. Rhe meat was tough, definitely Not lamb. The chicken Salomie was a disaster. the roti was thinner than paper, the Salome was bland and tasteless. To cap it all, we spent our time eating and chasing away flies,, unhygienic and disgusting.. First and VERY LAST visit to this establishment.