Name: Ichikidana
Address: 4 HaEshkol, Mahane Yehuda market, Jerusalem
The Quartet's mid-day shuk excursion took an unexpected twist when R and D decided that it mustn't end without a visit to Ichikidana. The challenges were many: We had to convince M that 25 minutes would be enough time to eat and not get a parking ticket, we had to convince N that Indian food would be good, we had to convince the waiter (telepathy) to not take his time, and we had to convince the parking police (good thoughts) to grant Sir Lancelot a few grace minutes.
Ichikidana has been in the shuk for a few years and is the only place in Jerusalem that serves simple, fairly priced Indian food. The place is small, and has about 4 tables inside, and another 2 on the porch. We ordered the largest sized platter and a lot of cold water - both arrived promptly. The platter contained an assortment of cooked vegetable dishes, dahl, cheese, and chutneys, with a healthy dose of rice and bread.
We all agreed that the food was better than we remembered. The rice was well seasoned, and the chutneys were zesty and delicious. When it came to the cooked dishes, our opinions differed: the eggplant was a little sweet, but had good, subtle flavor. The reviews on the yams ranged from OK to great, and the potatoes were infused with coriander and (too?) spicy. The cabbage was cooked with mustard seeds, but had a slightly bitter aftertaste. The dahl, on the other hand, was too bland, and the cheese was much closer to labaneh than ghee.
The platter was perfect for 4 not-so-hungry women with time only for a quick meal. Otherwise, it would probably be satisfactory as a meal for 2-3 people. Bottom line, we wouldn't make a special effort to return to Ichikidana, but if we were in the mood for Indian food and happened to be in the area, we would happily stop by.
Hopefully, M and N have seen the light, and will join future culinary endeavors - and possibly be guest bloggers!
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