Shamrat - Maidstone

It was a fairly easy delivery to Tonbridge this evening and, planning ahead, a revisit to the Spice Lounge in Hadlow was keenly anticipated.  The best laid plans fell, however, as the restaurant is no more - as and Indian Restaurant that is.  Mildly disappointed, Bob and Phil spotted the Shamrat as they came through Maidstone and an instant decision was made.

The Shamrat is located on Lower Stone Street in Maidstone.  It is a rather busy road with no parking but there is a multi-storey car park just around the corner.  The restaurant has a pleasant mix of beams and brickwork and the lighting and decor reflects the age of the building.  We were pleasantly greeted on entry and shown to a choice of tables.  For a Wednesday evening we were surprised at how busy it seemed.

The Papadums were warm and fresh and lightly salted.  The dips were the usual mix of onions, raita and mano chutney but with the addition of a lovely spicy chilli jam.  Very good indeed.  The (draught) beers were nicely cold and very well received.

The curries were excellent.  Phil's Dhansak had the lovely earthy flavour of lentils and Bob thoroughly enjoyed his Korma.

The rice was light and tasty but the vegetables were the only slight disappointment to the evening.  Bob felt that the Sag Aloo was rather bland, although Phil enjoyed the taste of the spinach coming through the dish and both felt the Muttar Paneer to be a bit of a let down.  Usually the peas are served in a creamy sauce but these were served dry and the peas were a little overcooked and hard.  It was tasty nevertheless.

The service was excellent.  There were plenty of staff on hand and Phil had a pleasant conversation with the Maitre'D on the merits of our different curries and dishes.  On the whole the everything went very smoothly but, being very picky, one vegetable dish arrived a couple of minutes after the others.  Hot napkins were served after the meal.

Area	Phil	Bob
Beer	9	8
Papadum	9	9
Curry	9	8
Rice & Vegetables	7	7
Service & Ambiance	9	10

In total an excellent 85 with the lower marks for the vegetables being down to taste rather than anything wrong!  This score puts Shamrat into 4th place just two marks from joint top spot.

A great meal and, if it were located a little closer to home, a candidate for our favourite restaurant.  We can understand and would support its claim to be Maidstone's Premier Indian Restaurant.

Romney Spice - New Romney

A large delivery to New Romney saw Bob and Phil joined by Clyde for this evening's delivery.  Clyde likes a good curry and thus became our guest blogger for the evening.

We spotted the Romney Spice on the way to the customer's delivery and, armed with a great recommendation from them pulled up outside with eager anticipation.  Located on New Romney's High Street, the restaurant is easy to find.  Although we couldn't say with certainty, we wouldn't be surprised to find that the building is listed.  Beams and thick walls abound and the decor and lighting is sympathetic to the age of the building.

The Papadums and the (bottled) Cobras arrived together with a tamarind dip instead of the normal lime pickle.  All were well received but we were surprised that the beers were served in pub glasses rather than branded.  It was good and cold though!

The curries were very good although Clyde did find his lamb (Madras) a little on the chewy side.  The portions were very generous and served on hot plates so were good and warm all the way through the meal.

The rice and vegetables were all well flavoured and, again, were generous in proportion  Clyde also enjoyed his keema naan.

The service was very polite and affable.  Hot towels were served after the meal and we were all offered a complementary drink.

Area	Phil	Bob
Beer	8	8
Papadum	9	9
Curry	8	8
Rice & Vegetables	8	8
Service & Ambiance	8	8

In total a very creditable 82.  Clyde was asked to provide his marks independently and scored 9,8,7,9,8 - an equally good mark.

Without being spectacular, Romney Spice racked up a score that sees it sitting just outside of our top 5 but well within our top 10 restaurants.

The Empress of India - Sittingbourne

After several weeks without an evening delivery, 4 came along at once.  A quick race up to Bexleyheath followed by a tour around Sittingbourne saw the Empress as the venue for the end of the evening.

Located on East Street, the Empress of India has been around for quite a while now (since 1991 according to the menu).  It has a more traditional feel to it with subdued lighting although, unusually, it had two TV's showing Bollywood movies.  For a Wednesday evening it was surprisingly busy.

The Papadums were a slight disappointment as they tasted oily and, in one case, left a bitter taste in the mouth.  The dips, however, were good with an interesting beetroot (we think) dip instead of the lime pickle. The (draft) Cobras were good and cold

Phil's Dhansak was very nice.  A great combination of heat and sweetness and the chicken was well cooked.  Bob was a little disappointed with his Butter Chicken, however, as it was rather bland

The vegetable dishes both had their distinctive flavours and the rice was a nice neutral pallet on which to try the flavour combinations.  Bob did feel, however, that there were too many peas in the rice.  The portions of all the dishes were very generous and there was quite a bit left at the end of the meal!

The service could not be faulted - even down to providing a pair of reading spectacles so Bob could peruse the menu.  Phil wasn't sure about the TV's however.  It is also worth noting that, by default, the restaurant adds a service charge to the Menu.

Area	Phil	Bob
Beer	8	8
Papadum	6	6
Curry	8	6
Rice & Vegetables	8	7
Service & Ambiance	8	8

In total a good solid 73, really only let down by the Papadums.

Without being spectacular, The Empress of India racked up a solid score which, in a way reflects the feeling you get when you walk through the door.  You know you are going to have a good curry.

The Ancient Raj - Canterbury

It had been a few weeks since an evening delivery so with one booked (well 4 actually) Bob and Phil set off on a bit or a tour which ended up with Canterbury close to the final destination.  Canterbury is a bit of a curry house desert - there are only 3 that Bob & Phil know of so the decision was made to re-visit the Ancient Raj.  Last time we visited was a disappointing Saturday night with other halves so would a Thursday be better?

The Ancient Raj is located on North Lane in Canterbury, about 2 minutes walk from the Westgate Towers.  A converted pub, the decor is themed on the history of India in the British Empire.  The restaurant has a small car park but there are several car parks (beware Pay & Display operates until 21:00 in Canterbury) within a few minutes walk.

On entering we were rather perfunctorily pointed at a table with the words "Well you can have that one there" and the adventure began.  The table we were pointed at was set for 4 and a Waitress (unusual for an India Restaurant) was despatch to remove the extra settings.  We were left with the impression, later reinforced, that she was new and seemed quite nervous.

The Papadums arrived quite quickly with the usual three pickles and a fourth, coconut based, dry pickle instead of the normal lime based alternative.  The (bottled) beers were also served quite quickly and were nicely cold.

The curries, when they finally arrived, were a mixed bag.  Phil enjoyed his Dhansak but Bob was rather disappointed with his Butter Chicken which he felt was rather bland and the chicken overcooked and starting to go tough.  Phil agreed that his chicken was bordering on overcooked too.

The rice was nice and hot and the vegetables too but, sadly, both the Sag Aloo and the Muttar Paneer were very bland save for a a flavour of coconut in the latter which Bob didn't mind too much but Phil thought was totally out of place with cheese and peas.

The service was, sadly, poor.  There is a head waiter who is clearly in charge and directs proceedings but his waiting team, the nervous waitress apart, seemed uninterested and acted as if they would rather be elsewhere.  Most unusual.  Bob and to signal that we were ready to order and again, a good 5 minutes after sitting there with empty plates in front of us that the table could be cleared.  The Bill arrived promptly though!

Area	Phil	Bob
Beer	8	8
Papadum	8	8
Curry	8	5
Rice & Vegetables	6	6
Service & Ambiance	5	6

In total a rather poor 68 albeit a significant improvement on the previous visit.

Canterbury has a very limited choice of curry houses so there is little competition.  Anecdotally the Ancient Raj has a good reputation but there are far better restaurants out there.

Darjeeling Heights, Rainham

It was a trickier than normal delivery to South London and it was quite late when Bob & Phil left the (hopefully) delighted customer with a generous tip in hand.  The furniture gods had smiled on the shop earlier in the day as there were no deliveries scheduled for Sheppey on the day that 100 cars were involved in a pile up on the bridge but the traffic gods were about to come into play.

The original plan had been to visit Brick Lane but, given the time, was revised and Darjeeling Heights set as the new destination as it was on the way home.  A previous plan to try this restaurant had been thwarted by a lack of a booking so, as Bob drove, Phil phoned ahead and the table was booked........but then disaster.  An accident on the A2 meant that it was closed at the Dartford Crossing junction.  Not to be thwarted, however, Phil's knowledge of the area courtesy of his past life (the story for another blog) navigated around the closure and what could have been a curryblog disaster ended up as an extra 20 minute delay before the curry.  It would be remiss of Bob & Phil not to thank the Restaurant for their understanding.  When Phil phoned to say they would be delayed because of the accident the Restaurant even phoned back with an alternative route that they could take!

Formerly the Men of Kent public house on the A2 in Rainham, Darjeeling Heights was opened in 2011.  It has a car park and street parking is available around the corner in Otterham Quay Lane.  It has been tastefully converted and there are a number of distinct areas which historically would have been different bars.  The overall feel is light and modern - perhaps a little to bright for Phil's taste.

The Papadums were warm and fresh but only served with 3 pickles - no lime pickle.  The Raita was quite unusual, however, as it was quite spicy.  The (bottled) Cobras were nicely cold and remained so throughout the meal..

Phil's Dhansak was excellent - a generous portion with plenty of flavour and a subtle heat; Bob's Korma was equally generous and thoroughly enjoyed.  The rice was probably one of the best Phil & Bob had experienced in quite a while providing sultanas and pieces of cashew nut as little treats throughout the meal. 

The vegetables, unfortunately, were a little disappointing.  The Sag Paneer, whilst nicely textured and seasoned, had no real discernible flavour and wasn't the creamy foil for the curries that Bob and Phil have come to expect.  The Bombay Aloo, whilst nicely flavoured wasn't hot and went cold very quickly.

****Desert Alert****

Although not part of the marks Phil noticed Kheer (Indian Rice Pudding) and Gulab Jamen were available on the menu so, unusually for Bob & Phil deserts were also enjoyed!!

****Desert Alert****

The restaurant was quite busy - the car park was full although there were still a few empty tables around - but there were plenty of waiters who were very initially very attentive.  This led to a bit of confusion as Bob & Phil received two menus each and nearly had their drinks order taken twice!  After this the service became a little indifferent to the point that the curries were finished before a waiter asked if everything was OK.

It is also worth noting an unfortunate table placement. The day of the visit had been the hottest September day for several years and even on leaving the restaurant the temperature was 20C.  Bob and Phil were seated at a table directly under the air condition unit which they are pleased to report was working very well - to the point of chilling the cutlery, making it cold to the touch and cooling the food very quickly.

Area	Phil	Bob
Beer	8	8
Papadum	9	9
Curry	9	9
Rice & Vegetables	8	7
Service & Ambiance	7	8

In total an above average 82%

A very good meal - only two restaurants have scored higher for their curries - was let down a little by the service, air conditioning and vegetables.  It was also a very expensive meal - the most expensive experienced by Bob & Phil so far on their travels (even allowing for the extra cost of the deserts) - and the first time either could recall a service charge being added to the bill.

Sahebs, Northiam

When Bob and Phil heard that a delivery on a Friday to Northiam was required there were mixed feelings.  They had reports from a rep visiting the shop that there was a good curry house there but were aware that Friday nights are usually busy and that curry houses can be Jekyll and Hyde when it comes to midweek and weekend curries and the last trip to East Sussex resulted in a very bland curry in Herstmonceux!  Exceedingly reassured by the very friendly customers on receipt of their furniture, Bob and Phil soon found the restaurant and in they went.....

Formally known as "The Station House", Sahebs is close to Northiam station (on the Kent & East Sussex Railway).  Easily spotted from the A28 and with a good sized car park, Sahebs is nicely decorated with subdued lighting in a more traditional style than some of the more modern "fusion" type restaurants which err towards coloured LED lights for effect.  It is also worth noting that Sahebs appears to be very wheelchair friendly as there were several customers in wheelchairs.  The Restaurant itself has several distinct areas which, at a guess, were separate bars in previous times.

The Papadums were warm and fresh and lightly salted and came with the traditional mix of 4 pickles served in nice porcelain dishes.  Phil liked all 4 but the Lime and Onion pickles were not to Bob's taste.  The bottled beers were nicely cold but could have been colder for they were getting warm towards the end of the meal.

The curries were, quite unusually these days, served on candle heated hot plates and were generous portions and beautifully garnished.  Phil's Dhansak was excellent with a subtle heat which allowed the peppery-ness of the lentils to come through.  Bob's Korma was very good too but was a little too mild.

The Bombay Aloo and Sag Paneer were both very good too - the different flavours went well with both curries with the sweetness of the Paneer sauce an excellent foil for the Dhansak.

The restaurant was very busy but was well staffed.  From being served with their napkins on arrival through having their beer glasses refreshed to the aniseed sweets with the chocolates with the bill neither Bob nor Phil could fault the service received.

Area	Phil	Bob
Beer	8	8
Papadum	8	8
Curry	10	8
Rice & Vegetables	9	9
Service & Ambiance	9	9

In total 86 - second only to Bob & Phil's favourite restaurant in Faversham

Saheb's is undoubtedly an excellent restaurant that can cope with a busy service.  Both Bob and Phil were regretting the distance from Whitstable but hoping the customers will come back to the shop and buy more furniture.....

Cinnamon Lounge, Bethersden

An evening trip to Tenterden saw Bob & Phil heading back down the A28 towards Ashford at around Curry O'Clock when there it was.  The Cinnamon Lounge.

On the site of The Royal Standard, public house and previously an Indian Restaurant known as the Royal Spice, The Cinnamon Lounge opened for business in May 2013.

We were politely greeted on entry and shown through to the restaurant area where a waiter took us to a table and served us with our napkins before taking our order for beer and papadums.

The papadums arrived with an slightly different selection of 4 dips.  Phil was a little disappointed by there being no onions but Bob enjoyed all 4 and was happily experimenting with taste combinations.  The draught beers were nicely cold but Phil thought that it didn't taste quite right somehow.

It is worth noting that, although not on the menu, the restaurant was happy to cook a butter chicken to order and, when they arrived they were beautifully served and generous portions.  Bob felt that his curry was acceptable but not what he has come to expect.  He rationalised this down to it not being on the menu.

The vegetables and rice were the only disappointment to the meal.  Although Bob didn't notice it, Phil felt that his rice was not hot and both felt that the Aloo Gobi and Sag Paneer were rather bland - although Phil found that the Sag Paneer was a nice foil for the heat of his Dhansak.

The service was exemplary.  From the greeting through to the complementary Brandy at the end of the meal nothing could be faulted.  The attention to detail in the cutlery, crockery and condiments as well as the lighting and general ambience makes the Cinnamon Lounge a very pleasant place to eat.

Area	Phil	Bob
Beer	8	9
Papadum	8	9
Curry	8	6
Rice & Vegetables	5	5
Service & Ambiance	8	8

In total 74 - Above average and only let down by the rice & vegetables.

The Cinnamon Lounge is very nice venue and could have been a table topping evening.

Fusion Lounge - Whitstable

It was a fairly local evening delivery which saw Bob and Phil end up in Whitstable at the end of the day.  Whitstable has many curry houses and this evening they chose Fusion Lounge.  Fusion Lounge is located on the way out of Whitstable (or the way in!!) on Canterbury Road and for those that know the town it is on the site of the old Giovanni's Italian Restaurant.  From the road it doesn't look the most inviting and we were initially worried that it may have been closed when we got there.

Having been to the Restaurant when it was Giovanni's, both Bob and Phil felt that nothing much had changed.  The decor seemed the same and the lighting and layout too - very 1970's (when Giovanni's was in its heyday!!)

The Papadums were warm and fresh and served with a good range of pickles and the (draught) Cobra was not warm - but not that cold that both Phil & Bob have found suits Cobra best.  A slight disappointment.

The curries were nicely served and generous in size.  Bob found that his Butter Chicken (which was quite red in colour) was a little unusual and felt that the chicken was a little overcooked.  Phil enjoyed the Dhansak but found that it was quite peppery and this tended to overpower the other dishes.

Both the Sag Aloo and the Muttar Paneer were good and nicely seasoned.  The peas were, perhaps, a little on the too sweet side.

The service was faultless - very polite.  Phil found the background music somewhat grating though.  Not your normal music and somewhat louder than normal (but not as loud as to stifle conversation) it made him feel like he was in a cinema waiting for a film to start!

Area	Phil	Bob
Beer	7	8
Papadum	8	8
Curry	7	6
Rice & Vegetables	8	7
Service & Ambiance	6	7

In total 72.  Not a disaster but quite a way short of some of the better curry houses around.

There are many curry houses in Whitstable and this isn't one of the stand out ones - we can see why it isn't the busiest.

Maharaja at the Bandstand - Herne Bay

It was an interesting evening with deliveries in Bearsted, Tilbury and Herne Bay.  The decision was made to end the evening close to home and the Maharaja was the chosen destination.

The Maharaja hasn't been open very long.  This time last year it was a bar.  It occupies one half of the historic Bandstand on Herne Bay's seafront which was built in the 1920's.  From the outside the decoration is sympathetic to the history of the building but inside it has been tastefully modernised and, for those long hot summer evenings(!), there are even tables available outside in the courtyard.

The Papadums were warm and fresh and served with the ususal dips although the Mango chutney had a very distinctive flavour.  The beers were nicely cold and served with chilled glasses.

A point to note is that, before we were served our main courses we were asked if we were ready - a nice touch. The curries were very good indeed.  Phil was intrigued with his Dhansak and how it moved from sweet at the front of the mouth to a full blown heat kick at the rear.  The heat of the Dhansak was beautifully neutralised by the sweetness of the Muttar Paneer and Bob was particularly pleased with the flavour of the Bombay Aloo and its contrast with his Butter Chicken.

The restaurant was quite busy for a midweek - nearly half its insided tables were being used and it seemed quite noisy.  Phil noticed that the waiters had seemed to crowd one area of the restaurant leaving a second area empty and wondered if a quiter atmosphere would have resulted had the customers been space more apart.  Both Bob and Phil were intrigued with a little party trick when the napkins were delivered at the end of the meal.

Area	Phil	Bob
Beer	8	8
Papadum	8	8
Curry	9	8
Rice & Vegetables	9	9
Service & Ambiance	8	8

In total 83 which puts the Maharaja up there near the best we have experienced.

All in all a fine end to a long evening!

Zarda Indian Cuisine - Yalding

A further delivery to Robertsbridge was called for.  The traffic reports were not good so Phil decided to plot a scenic route cross country that took us through the village of Yalding.  Right next to the bridge that crosses the River Beult is Zarda.  Stopped outside the restaurant waiting for oncoming vehicles to clear the bridge, the decision was made to return there once the delivery was completed.

Zarda is the custodian of a Grade II listed building known as Swan House.  The restaurant has been tastefully integrated into the open plan ground floor with its wealth of ancient oak beams.  The effect is light and airy.  It is not a large restaurant but was, for a Thursday evening, quite busy.

We were greeted at the door, shown to our table and served our napkins by one of the very attentive waiters.

The Papadums, whilst not warm, were fresh and lightly salted.  They were served with 5 pickles, the 5th was an extremely moreish tamarind dip which Bob in particular liked.  Whilst enjoying the Papadums and the nicely cold beers we were treated to complementary mini-samosas which were very nicely presented and most welcome.

The curries were excellent.  Bob in particular thought that his Butter Chicken surpassed that in his favourite restaurant although Phil felt that his Dhansak was slightly overpowered by garlic.

The vegetables lead to the only slight disappointment of the evening.  The Sag Aloo, whilst pleasant, lacked any real flavour;  the Muttar Paneer, however was excellent and the freshness of the peas shone through.  Bob did feel too that his rice was a little overcomplicated.

The service could hardly be faulted.  From the greeting onwards we were well attended in a polite and friendly fashion.

Area	Phil	Bob
Beer	8	8
Papadum	9	10
Curry	9	10
Rice & Vegetables	8	7
Service & Ambiance	9	8

In total an excellent 86 a very close second behind our favourite restaurant in Faversham

Having been so disappointed following their last trip to West Kent/East Sussex, Zarda has given Bob and Phil a reason to look forward to their next delivery to that part of the world.

India Royal, Faversham - Revisited

Another Wednesday; another evening delivery. Delivery over curry o'clock saw us on the outskirts of Faversham.  Following our disappointment last week it was thus an easy decision to visit somewhere to restore our faith in curries.

The India Royal is located on East Street there is plenty of parking nearby with a car park round the corner in Newton Road.

Being a revisit, Phil decided to swap his Dhansak for a Madras and off we went.....

The Papadums arrived warm and fresh with the usual selection of pickles which were excellent. Phil's only (picky) comment was that the onions could have been more finely chopped. The (bottled) beers were very cold indeed.

The curries were fantastic. Bob has always used the India Royal's Butter Chicken as his benchmark as it has a unique and delicious flavour and he delighted in it so much he almost bathed in the sauce. Phil thoroughly enjoyed his Madras which had an excellent balance of flavour and heat although he felt the sauce was unusually thin.

The Vegetables were excellent - both full of flavour and individual so with 4 dishes in all there were 4 distinct and complementary flavours.

The service was impeccable, we were politely shown to our table by our waiter who unfolded and placed our napkins. During the meal there was the perfect balance of attentiveness, concern that we were enjoying our meal and offering other items.

Area	Phil	Bob
Beer	9	9
Papadum	8	8
Curry	8	9
Rice & Vegetables	9	9
Service & Ambiance	9	9

In total a score of 87 surpassing their previous joint leading score of 84.

Bob & Phil walked away very happy indeed. This is a restaurant that many others should aspire to be like!

Kirthon, The Pantiles, Tunbridge Wells

Anyone that has read any of our previous posts may remember that Phil lived over in this part of the world for a while and, with a delivery to Rotherfield on the cards, tonight's destination was a certainty from the moment it was confirmed.

The Kirthon is on the upper walk of the Pantiles in the historic part of Tunbridge Wells.  Phil knew it from the early 80's as "The Anglo Indian Tandoori" when he lived further along the Pantiles in a flat above the Bank and it was one of his favourite haunts.

For the visitor, there is plenty of street parking in that part of town and, although the entrance is on the ground level, the restaurant is on the upper floors up an ornate, winding staircase.

The restaurant has a strange feel to it.  The lighting and tables were not a sympathetic addition to the low ceilings and beams form the fabric of the building.  The LCD TV on the wall; the use of iPads to take orders; the busy rush of waiters with a cheery indifference were all at odds with the location.

The Papadums were reasonably fresh but not warm.  The pickles were nicely varied and Bob particularly liked the mango chutney which had an interesting lime tang within it.  The (bottled) beers were nicely cold but served in pub pint glasses rather than the more sophisticated branded glasses that is the norm.

The curries duly arrived with the vegetables but without the rice which turned up a couple of minutes later.  That having been said the dishes were still piping hot.  Phil's Dhansak was a nice combination of sweet and hot but Bob's Korma was rather bland.  In both cases, however, the feeling was one of being short changed as the portions were largely sauce with little meat.

The vegetables, sadly, were bland to the point of being virtually tasteless.

For a Wednesday evening the restaurant was surprisingly busy and there were plenty of waiters but the service felt impersonal and disjointed.  Our table wasn't made up when we were shown to it and tablecloths were conspicuous by their absence.  Even the tables themselves were plastic and are nothing like the pictures on their website!

Area	Phil	Bob
Beer	8	8
Papadum	6	6
Curry	7	4
Rice & Vegetables	5	4
Service & Ambiance	4	4

In total a very disappointing 56.

What Phil fondly remembered as an elegant restaurant (and one that helped shape his love of curry some 30 years ago) has become something that looks to cater for the tourist that visits Tunbridge Wells.  It certainly falls far short of its aim "to create the ultimate dining experience".

Gurkha Palace - Sangate, Folkestone

After an unfortunate break, courtesy of Phil falling and rupturing his quadricep tendon and therefore being immobilised for the best part of 4 months the evening deliveries have restarted and, with that, the curry adventure continues.

This evening a trip to Folkestone was called for and, delivery completed, we were given directions by a (hopefully very happy) customer to The Gurkha Palace in Sangate which was highly recommended to us.

The Gurkha Palace is in, perhaps, an unusual location, being situated in a small shopping area in the middle of a large housing estate.  The shopping area forms two sides of a square and the middle of the square is a reasonably sized car park so parking was very easy.  Folkestone has a large Nepalese community as a result of being home to one of the Gurhka regiments and the Gurkha Palace specialises in a blend of Indian and Nepalese cuisine.

The Papadums were fresh and warm and served pre-cut into quarters.  An unusual presentation and quite a technical challenge!  The pickles were a troika of Mango Chutney, Mint Raita and a savoury, almost bovril like, dip.  Phil was a little disappointed with the lack of Onions.  The (bottled) beers were nicely cold.

The curries were excellent.  Phil found that the Dhansak had a fantastic blend of heat and sweetness with lots of little surprise notes of flavour (he has obviously been watching too much Masterchef during his incapacity).  Bob's Korma again had an excellent depth and balance of flavour.

The Vegetables were slightly more of a mixed bag.  Phil thought that they contrasted nicely with his Dhansak but Bob found the Kerau Paneer a bit too similar to his Korma.

We were well looked after by our host and Phil was pleased to note hot towels at the end of the meal.

Area	Phil	Bob
Beer	8	8
Papadum	7	7
Curry	9	9
Rice & Vegetables	8	7
Service & Ambiance	8	7

A happy total score of 78.

We noticed a comment from another customer that they happily travel an 80 mile round trip to eat at the Gurka Palace.  We can understand why!!

Eastern Promise - Herstmonceux

On the way to Bob & Phil's furthest yet delivery to Hailsham we spotted the Eastern Promise in the village of Herstmonceux.


Located on the main road - the A271 - with plenty of on road parking the restaurant is easily spotted with its modern looking front a contrast to the cottages in the village.  It has a modern feel but is tastefully decorated with tables nicely spaced.  For a Wednesday evening it was surprisingly busy.

The Papadums were fresh and crisp - albeit not served warm - with a tasty selection of pickles.  The raita was notably different to many others we have sampled with a very interesting sweet yet slightly savoury flavour.  Buoyed by a great start with nice cold Cobra expectations were raised.....

....only to be let down by blandness - and lots of it.  About the only thing positive that can be said was that Phil's Dhansak had some heat but there was nothing sweet nor sour to go with it and Bob's choice of Butter Chicken might as well have been just chicken.  Very disappointing.

The vegetables were equally bland and even with the addition of salt (and neither of us could remember when we saw salt & pepper on a table in an Indian before) there was little flavour to be teased out.

The service was pleasant, if a little distant.  At one point our waiter seemed to be focussed more on listening to an adjacent table than listening to our order.  But on the whole, whilst nothing exceptional, perfectly acceptable.  We were pleased to see terry towels served at the end of the meal.

Area	Phil	Bob
Beer	8	7
Papadum	7	8
Curry	4	2
Rice & Vegetables	4	4
Service & Ambiance	7	7

In total a woeful 58%

It seems strange that a restuarant serving such disappointing curries should be so busy.  Did we choose badly or is the Eastern Promise catering to the bland tastes of the residents of Herstmonceux.  We couldn't decide!