FoodBlog Review : Sapana, Gozo. The sweet Indian surprise 🇮🇳

Finding a good Indian place is not the easiest task in the world and if you’re not from the area, or the island, you might not know where to go. If you’re in Gozo and up for an evening of korma and biryani; Sapana in Xlendi could be the perfect spot. 

Xlendi Bay is stunning in itself, the sea village is nestled between gorgeous cliffs that give the restaurant-filled area its appeal. Sapana is a few metres away from the sea, but you’ll easily find it if you follow the aromatic smells of cardamom, cinnamon and curry leaves shallow frying in the kitchen. 🔥

A quaint facade that leads onto some bold flavours.

The Sapana dining experience 

We sat outside in the pedestrian area, where Restaurant Owner Frank Said treated us to a night of Indian delight. The evening was packed with food so we’ll jump right into the good stuff.

First off, a feast of appetisers that ranged from Chicken Tandoori, Onion Bhaji, Meat Samosas, Popadoms and an assortment of chutneys, pickled condiments and sauces.

The appetisers that set us off on our Indian tour.

The Chicken Tandoori was tender, perfectly seasoned and charred ever so slightly on the outside. The spice levels here were just right but a dip in the spicy chutney they serve here kicks it up a notch. 🍗 

The Meat Samosas paired really well with the mango chutney. The pastry was light and fluffy and the meat mixture, aromatic and rich. Slight notes of cinnamon gave the fried dumpling an authentic feel. 

The Meat Samosas were fluffy and rich... and so aromatic.

As always the Onion Bhaji was crispy, crunchy, so oniony and slightly salted. You could easily order a double portion of these and not regret the calories. The gram flour gives the bhaji a light texture on the inside and the spices elevate the flavour profile to a moreish degree. We chowed down on this assortment of fried and charred nibbles and savoured the spices with a swish of Kingfisher beer. While we sat and enjoyed the Xlendi atmosphere, our mains were being fired up in the kitchen. 🍺

The Sapana style Thali 

The next hour of our evening was spent working our way through an aromatic thali style platter, but no reduced portions here - we went for Frank’s recommendations; the Chicken Balti, the Lamb Pasander and my personal favourite, the Dal Tarka. 

Full portion thali? Yes, please!

The balti is the Chef’s speciality and delivers an aromatic sauce with fresh ginger elements that infuse the tender chicken chunks served in a traditional metal kadai. The pasander is made with a cashew paste and green herbs; the overtone of this curry is slightly sweet and pairs well with the Jeera Pilau Rice. 

The show-stopper of the evening; but always the best part of the meal for me, the Dal Tarka. The soft and smooth lentils, the rich tomato sauce and ghee finish always does it for me - and the Sapana version didn’t disappoint. Slightly spicy - a nice chilli kick that soothes itself out with the Arabian Biryani, a sweeter rice with nuts, dried fruit and coconut. 🥥

Chilli kicks, sweet tones, fragrant flavours and aromatic overtones - what more do you want?

To lap up all the velvety curry, and wipe the plates clean when we were done, the Chapati and Garlic Naan were right there to get the job done. The chapati were fresh and light, airy but slightly stretchy and the smokiness on the dough was perfect. The naan on the other hand wasn’t smoky but rather buttery and fragrant with the garlic boom and floral nigella seeds. The dough was light and crisp but it still kept its airy texture - the perfect companion to a rich curry. 

Sapana sweetness 

There was no way we could eat more, but a surprise Gulab Jamun quickly found its way to our table. And life was good. This glorious Indian dessert is a light and sweet milk-solid-based dessert that’s packed with flavours of cardamom, cinnamon and coconut. If you’ve never tried them; man you’re missing out! 🤤

Gulab Jamun - sweet, light and perfectly syrupy!

Sapana is a great place to go if you’re looking for some bold flavours, rich sauces and fragrant rice and bread side. The staff are friendly and attentive and the surroundings are idyllic. It’s the perfect spot for date night, a great restaurant to head to with friends and also a good spot for families to get together. Sapana is one to try, that’s for sure.

FoodBlog Mission Statement: The above opinions are based on the reviewer’s particular personal experience during the restaurant visit. FoodBlog’s primary aim is to give restaurant owners and chefs an insider-view to their clientele's experience; highlighting their strongest suits and applauding all floor and kitchen staff for a job well done while making them aware of the personal improvements we feel would elevate their restaurant. FoodBlog critiques are intended to improve the Food and Beverage experience for diners and to encourage excellence in culinary and hospitality professionals.