Best Restaurants on the French Riviera Chamkila Indian restaurant in Antibes

Chamkila,

4 Rue Sade,

Antibes,

France

0033 (0) 4 93 34 23 00

Chamkila is tucked away down one of Antibes’ many alleys and side streets, but is definitely worth the hunt. It has to be said that the French do not appear to enjoy strong spices and the only place you will find an Indian restaurant, apart from Paris, is in towns with a large English-speaking population. Specifically, British rather than American, because Chicken Tikka Masala seems to have become the British National Dish. Quite right too, it’s up there as one of my all-time favorite meals. Done right, the subtle combination of spices, tomatoes, garlic and cream is the perfect combination for me. One of the great things about Indian food is the many vegetarian options available, and Chamkila is no exception. It’s refreshing to find an Indian restaurant that tries to create the sort of Indian food British customers will enjoy.

Of course, they are constantly battling with the French requirement for creamy, well crafted sauces that are mild, mild mild, so if you want a hot dish, you must tell them you want it, “Indian Hot” and even then you are likely to be slightly disappointed because their interpretation of “Indian Hot” takes the French palate into account.

The simple fact is, that you are just not going to get a really spicy dish in France, so, no tongue-searingly hot curries here, but the quality of the food is excellent. Creamy sauces, mildly flavored and beautifully presented in a good atmosphere and good service (for France.) I had my usual favorite, the Chicken Tikka Masala along with some Naan bread and a few appetizers. Having adjusted to French portions, I was not disappointed with the size of the meal, but if you are used to English or American-sized portions, you may be. My wife chose the Palak Paneer, which was also excellent.

I have nothing but good things to say about the quality of the food, but I have now eaten here several times, always with a group of other ex-pats. Every single time there was a “mistake” made with the order resulting in at least two extra dishes being provided and charged for. Just remember, this restaurant is in a tourist area, so any English-speaker seems to be fair game for the usual rip-offs. They do not expect you to come back, so feel they can make a “mistake” with the order, sell you a couple of extra curries and no-one will notice. The first time, I let it slide, the second, I realized we were being conned and didn’t leave a tip, and the third time, refused to pay for the extra dishes.

This is always a gamble if you expect to go back to the restaurant, but I felt I had no choice. It’s a shame because it spoiled an otherwise enjoyable meal. If anyone else has eaten here, I would love to hear what you have to say on this subject.