Mowgli

During my recent visit to Oxford, I was excited to try some highly recommended Indian street food at Mowgli. The restaurant has a lovely ambiance with its unique terrace, beautiful lighting, and swings inside. It had a casual yet lively vibe, perfect for a relaxed meal. The menu caught my eye right away—extensive yet reasonably priced, with curries ranging from £6 to £10. I decided to order the Temple Dhal, Picnic Potato Curry, House Lamb, and the Mother Butter Chicken.

I had high hopes when the dishes arrived, but I noticed something was off—there wasn’t much of an aroma coming from the food. My excitement dimmed a little as I took the first bites. The Temple Dhal, though vibrant in colour, lacked any real flavour. The lentils were bland, despite the promise of herbs and spices. The lamb was tender, but again, it was missing the bold flavours I expected from a curry.

The Picnic Potato Curry didn’t fare any better. It tasted like it had a mere hint of coriander and some heat, but overall, it was under-seasoned. It just didn’t pop with the flavours that you’d anticipate from Indian street food. The saving grace, if I could call it that, was the Mother Butter Chicken. This dish had the most flavour of everything I tried, with a rich tomato gravy and a slight kick.

However, even this dish left me feeling like I was eating a microwave meal rather than a freshly made curry. The service, although friendly, seemed under pressure and a bit disorganised. For a meal that cost £43.50, I walked away feeling disappointed. While the atmosphere was pleasant, the food just didn’t live up to the hype. Maybe you’ll have better luck, but for me, Mowgli was a miss.