GURKHA CORNER
12 Glamorgan Street, Brecon. 01874 610781 / www.gurkhacorner.co.uk
Food *** Atmosphere ***
We were staying in the Wellington Hotel, a few doors away from this restaurant, and the reviews sounded interesting enough to give it a go. Run by ex-Gurkha soldiers, it had attracted very positive comments. We hadn’t booked; it was packed, leaving us unable to get in until 9.30pm, which as it happens was fine, as we spent the intervening two hours in the lovely Brecon Tap Bar across the road.
When we ventured back it was still heaving and we were shown upstairs, to a room I can only describe as odd. It reminded me of a charity shop back room, with mismatched tables and scruffy sofas. We ordered drinks and a few poppadums while we waited for a table downstairs. The art dotted around featured various Gurkha imagery and – I guess – the Nepalese Royal family. Not the most comfortable or luxurious, but by now we were tired, hungry and the menu looked appealing enough to stay.
As a duo of veggies plus a token fish eater, we went for it. Momos – vegetarian steamed dumplings with sesame sauce – had been recommended, and were joined by kalo daal (black lentils fried with jimmu); aloo zeera (boiled potato with fried cumin seeds and spices); bhindi bharjees, a Nepalese speciality; bhuteko bhat (wok fried rice with mustard seeds, onions and veg) and a king prawn kosheli cooked with coconut milk, garlic sauce and Nepalese spices. Despite the strange start to the experience, the food was good: fragrant, light and different and the momos an added new taste sensation.
Gurkha Corner’s staff and owner were lovely and polite, while pricewise the meal was reasonable. However, it does need a facelift, and the upstairs room completely redecorated and preferably not used as a waiting room/dining area until there has been an overhaul. Leaving aside the creepy upstairs bit, I would probably go back if in Brecon.
words Anotonia Levay