Whilst their decor is basic, the menu is packed with cheap as chips dishes such as masala dosa (£4.75), onion bhajis (£2.50) and vegetable biryani (£4.99).
Madhav has high profile fans too as Shauna from Hang Fire named it as one of her favourite places to eat.
Riding solo before a trip to the cinema, I ordered more than I should have done (all in the name of research, of course).
A cup of masala chai (£2) was deliciously spicy and creamy.
Complimentary poppadoms were fresh as can be but perhaps suffered slightly as a result because they were still a touch oily.
A trio of samosas (£2.50) were bang on - the golden pastry triangles were filled with a warming spiced potato and pea mix (I’m sure they might have been some cinnamon in there). A minty yoghurt raitha was lovely spooned all over them.
A thali (£6.99), Madhav’s speciality, was a kaleidoscope of lovely things and a bargain to boot.
A pot of mixed vegetable curry was bathed in a deep flavoured almost meaty gravy; tender Bombay potatoes were twanged with chilli and curry leaf; a thin dhal was heady with mustard seed; a hyper crisp spring roll contained spicy potato and vegetable mash; aubergine, pea and onion curry was packed with perfectly tender veggies; chilli and lime pickle spiced up the show; and super soft chapatis and fluffy rice provided welcome bulk.
A crisp and sticky jalebi was enjoyable but a bit too one dimensionally sweet for my taste.
A bowl of bhel puri (£2.50) saw light puffed rice, onions, tomatoes, bombay mix, potatoes and fragrant coriander coated in a tangy tamarind sauce. It was deliciously crisp and light when it first arrived but it rapidly become soggy. To be fair though, I really shouldn’t have ordered this much food.
I had a lovely and cracking value thali from Madav. If you want some tasty Indian street food then get down there.
The Details:
Address - Madhav, 59 Lower Cathedral Rd, Cardiff CF11 6LW
Telephone - 029 2037 2947
Madhav's is one of the main things I miss about living in Riverside (am now in Splott). Mrs Madhav's kachoris (sweet and sour lentil balls), and her samosas, are to die for. She does some of the best Indian food in Cardiff, IMHO.
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