What’s on offer?
Masti by Chaska is the Donnybrook outpost of a wider group of Indian restaurants that also includes Chaska at the IFSC, Dhoom in Rathmines, and Bites on Talbot Street. All are dine-in venues that also offer takeaway. The group describes its food as an Indian dining experience featuring tandoori dishes, curries, biryanis and a vegetarian section.
What did we order?
Vegetarian thali, Punjabi samosa, lamb rogan josh, Malabar fish curry, pulao rice and garlic naan.
How was the service?
Ordering online was straightforward and the food was delivered hot and on time.
Was the food nice?
In a restaurant, thalis are presented in beautiful small dishes on a metal platter but as a takeaway, it arrives in plastic tubs, which kills some of the magic. It included saag paneer, chana masala, tadka dal, vegetable curry, raita, plain rice, naan and a small dessert of dates kheer. The chana masala had a sharp tomato and garlic base with soft chickpeas. The saag paneer came in a creamy spinach sauce, but lacked the iron-rich depth the dish normally has. The tadka dal was very good – yellow lentils with a light tempering, textured more than spiced. The kheer was a creamy rice pudding with dates and a whisper of rosewater.
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The Punjabi samosas were large, stuffed with mashed potato and peas, the cumin-scented filling wrapped in a thick, crisp pastry. The lamb rogan josh was made with diced shoulder in a tomato-based sauce scented with garlic and ginger.
The Malabar fish curry was bolder. Chunks of tilapia stayed intact in a coconut-heavy sauce flavoured with curry leaf, black pepper and fennel. The spicing was southern – aromatic, not hot – and the fresh curry leaf added lift. The pulao rice and garlic naan were as expected. What stood out was the lack of repetition: each dish had its own profile, no overlap.
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What about the packaging?
Food came in a combination of cardboard packaging and foil lined bags. The single-use plastic tubs for the thali were far from ideal.
What did it cost?
€86.80 for dinner for three people (though we paid €69.35 thanks to a €17.45 Deliveroo-Plus discount): vegetarian thali, €25.95; Punjabi samosa, €7.95; lamb rogan josh, €22.95; Malabar fish curry, €21.95, pulao rice, €4.50; and garlic naan, €3.95.
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Where does it deliver?
Open 11am–11pm daily, except Tuesday. Orders can be placed online via their website, Deliveroo, or Just Eat, with delivery within 5km.
Would I order it again?
Yes, particularly the Malabar fish curry. Prices are a bit steep.
