India Royal - Faversham - Revisited

The philosophy of "Winging it" didn't work tonight.  On a delivery to Welling and despite directions from the customer, Bob and Phil couldn't find the restaurant!  Instead they decided to revisit what has been their benchmark restaurant - not visited since June 2013.  Would it be as good as they remembered?

Still located on East Street and still as clean looking as they remembered - mindful that at least 2 restaurants on the blog are no longer trading - Bob and Phil went in to find that they were the only two there!  Undaunted, they ordered....

The Papadums were warm and fresh and delivered with a super cold (draft) Cobra but, unusually, only 3 dips.  The dips, however, were all distinct in the flavour and worked well.

Bob's Butter Chicken was how he remembered it although, with a nod towards rose tinted spectacles, it didn't seem quite so good.  Phil was a little disappointed with his Dhansak.  It reminded him of the Madras he had last time here with added lentils rather than a lentil based curry built from the bottom up.

The Vegetables were excellent.  Phil has always thought that the combination of Muttar Paneer and Sag Aloo worked well with the curries and tonight was no exception.  The sweetness of the creamy sauce on the Paneer contrasted well with the heat of the curry and the Sag Aloo's earthy flavours shone through.

The service was exactly as remembered.  Polite, prompt, everything that you would expect.

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

A total score of 84 - not quite up there with their best score but equally not far behind.  If this were a new restaurant it would be sitting proudly just outside the top 5.

The mystery was why the restaurant was so empty.  It deserves to be full!

Alishan - Tonbridge

A delivery to a home just off of Tonbridge High Street meant that Bob & Phil decided to "wing it" - after all what High Street doesn't have at least one Indian Restaurant?  Delivery over Bob & Phil parked up and went for a wander and found the Alishan.

From the outside the Alishan looks impressive.  Nicely lit and very nicely presented.  As Bob & Phil stepped inside they were shown to a table, orders for drinks and papadums taken both of which were served very promptly and then......wait for it.........

The (Bottled) Cobras and Papadums arrived very promptly indeed.  The beers were nicely cold as (sadly) were the Papadums which were served with a selection of 3 dips.  Sadly all three dips tasted remarkably similar despite all looking very different.

The curries, when they eventually arrived, were nicely presented.  Bob thought that his Butter Chicken was everything he would expect - from a Korma.  Not unpleasant but definitely not what he expected!  Phil felt his Dhansak was more like a Madras with added lentils than a Dhansak built from the ground up.  There was heat, the odd hint of lentil flavour but no real depth of flavour.

The vegetables were, along with the beers, probably the best part of the meal.  The cumin potatoes had a great flavour without any overpowering heat and the malai sag was an excellent combination of sweetness and creaminess.  The rice was OK but lacked any real flavour and Phil felt was a little pappy and overcooked.

The service, after a great start, was a big letdown.  As the drinks were served Bob & Phil indicated that they were ready to order.  The waiter acknowledged this and left.  Returned 5 minutes later to take the order of another table, left again and returned another few minutes later to take their orders.
When Bob ordered his Butter Chicken the waiter actually pulled a face.  The waiter did not check to see if any breads were required (not that they were but one would expect that to be the norm).

This lack of attention continued throughout the evening, sadly.  No-one attended to see if everything was OK with the meal.  The beer bottles were collected but further drinks were not offered.  No towels were served after the meal.  Bob and Phil felt so strongly about this that this was the first time that either could remember not leaving a tip.

Area	Phil	Bob
Beer	9	9
Papadum	7	7
Curry	6	6
Rice & Vegetables	6	6
Service & Ambiance	4	4

In total a very poor 64% ranking it just above the bottom 5 restaurants blogged.

Looks can be deceiving.  As Bob & Phil walked in expectations had been raised but they were far from delivered.  Phil (as he always does) checked out the website after the event to make sure of spellings, etc but noticed the following quote on it:

"Our dedicated staff at Alishan ensure that each and every one of our customers has the finest Indian dining experience that Tonbridge, and the whole of Kent, has to offer".

Based on their experience Bob and Phil would strongly disagree.

Meridian Spice, Rainham

A fairly short trip up to Northfleet was called for this evening for a 3 piece suite and on the way up Bob & Phil decided to make a short detour on the way back to try a restaurant in Rainham that someone they know frequents when in the area.

Meridian Spice is located on Rainham High Street.  Rainham High Street is, unfortunately, also the A2 so it is a busy road with very limited parking.  There are, however, car parks very close by.  Sat behind a modern shop front, the restaurant itself is full of exposed beams and subdued lighting.  For a Tuesday evening, Bob & Phil were surprised by how busy it was.

Bob & Phil were shown to a table and the initial orders were taken quickly.  The (draught) Cobra's arrived soon after and were wonderfully cold.  There was a short wait for the Papadums which were warm and fresh but served with only 3 pickles - not a lime in sight.

The was a bit of a wait for the curries but, when they arrived, were nicely presented and good and hot.  Phil enjoyed his Dhansak which did what it said on the menu - hot, sweet and sour - but felt that the sauce lacked a little bit of depth.  Bob thoroughly enjoyed the flavour of his curry but was very disappointed to find not one but several bits of bone attached to the meat.

Both the Sag Aloo and Muttar Paneer were tasty and well seasoned and were an excellent contrast to the curries and the Rice was well presented and delicately flavoured.

The service was a little slow, Phil felt that perhaps the restaurant had been unexpectedly busy, but the waiters were polite and cheerful and it was very apparent that there were a number of regular customers in.

Area	Phil	Bob
Beer	9	9
Papadum	8	7
Curry	8	4*
Rice & Vegetables	8	8
Service & Ambiance	7	7

* If it hadn't have been for the Bone then Bob would have scored it as 8
In total 75 - a top 20 finish and above Bob & Phil's average score.

Bob & Phil left thinking that it had been a worthwhile detour on the way home.  If it hadn't been for the bones then this would have been just outside the Top 10 curries.

St Lawrence Tandoori - Ramsgate

It had been a long time - too long - since the shop had been called upon to do an evening delivery so when a trip to Ramsgate came up Bob & Phil were chomping at the bit.  A quick Google (other search engines are available) and the post delivery destination was set.

St Lawrence Tandoori is set in quite a modern building in St Lawrence High Street.  Street parking is available on the High Street.  The Restaurant is quite brightly lit and was surprisingly busy for a Thursday evening.

The Papadums were warm and, Phil thought, slightly greasy.  The dips were OK but the Lime Pickle looked as if we were served with a dish that others had already dipped into.  The (draught) Cobras were good but not cold enough, Bob felt.

Bob's Butter Chicken got off to a good start with Bob full of smiles but the initial delight seemed to wear off.  Phil's Dhansak, however, was good through and through.

The vegetables and rice, however, were somewhat disappointing. Phil felt that both the rice and Aloo Gobi were rather bland.  Even more disappointing was that the Sag Paneer didn't arrive with the rest of the meal - it did turn up probably 5 minutes behind the rest.

The service was not the best.  Phil didn't like that there were paper napkins.  The service seemed rather distant and neither Bob nor Phil could recall being asked if everything was OK.

Area	Phil	Bob
Beer	7	7
Papadum	7	7
Curry	9	7
Rice & Vegetables	5	6
Service & Ambiance	5	6

In total a rather disappointing 66 - well below our average score.  Placing St Lawrence Tandoori into the bottom 10.

Clearly there is potential but was this a bad night for the restaurant?  Bob and Phil will probably never know.

Everest Inn - Ashford

Some deliveries are a pleasure and this evening was one of them.  Whilst Bob was happily chatting away about TV series that he and the customer had in common, Phil was happily crawling around assembling the ottoman bed.  As the building and the conversation continued it moved to the subject of Curry and Phil and Bob left with not one but two recommendations in the Ashford area.  Being in the big yellow van, the decision was made to go to the Everest Inn as parking would be easier.  The second curry house would have to wait until a delivery in the smaller van!

The Everest Inn is a Nepalese & Indian Restaurant.  Located in Station Road in Ashford it is easily found as it is completely surrounded by car park.  The building looks a little strange from the outside as if everything else around it was demolished to make way for the car park but inside it is very tastefully decorated.  There are a chain of three Everest Inn's, the other two being in Blackheath and Hythe.  Bob & Phil were greeted by a receptionist and shown to a nicely set table.

The Papadums were disappointingly not that warm but beautifully served with a mixed bag of pickles.  Bob felt that the raita was rather bland and Phil was intrigued by a carrot and cauliflower pickle.  The draft Kingfisher (no Cobra) was nicely cold.

The curries were intriguing.  Bob's Butter Chicken had a smokey flavour to it which gave it an unusual depth.  Phil's Dhansak started with a hint of sweetness and tomato then moved through a number of flavours before gently warming the back of the throat.

The Vegetables provoked mixed opinions.  Both Phil & Bob enjoyed the Aloo Gobi but Bob felt that the Sag Paneer was too bland whereas Phil felt it was the perfect foil for the Dhansak.  Interestingly Phil found that the Aloo Gobi changed flavour before and after sampling the Dhansak - a strong sense of mustard coming through.

The service was excellent.  The two waitresses were friendly and polite and engaged in conversation about the meal - not just the usual "Is everything OK?"  The serving of the post meal napkins became a pleasant ceremony with a nice twist to it.  It is worth noting, however, that the meal wasn't at the cheaper end of the scale and that a 10% service charge was automatically added to the bill.

Area	Phil	Bob
Beer	8	9
Papadum	7	6
Curry	9	9
Rice & Vegetables	8	6
Service & Ambiance	9	9

In total 80 points - above average but just outside the top 10 curries.

A little more flavour in some of the dips and vegetables and it would have made it into the top 10!  If Bob and Phil have a delivery to Blackheath or Hythe then the other branches will be visited!

The Maharani Tandoori, Sittingbourne

After some local evening deliveries, the Maharani Tandoori was the chosen venue for the close of play curry.

Located on West Street in Sittingbourne, the Maharani is, Bob & Phil believe, the oldest Indian Restaurant in the town.  It looks to have been decorated fairly recently and it is fair to say that the owner likes the colour blue!

The Papadums were served promptly and were warm although (to Bob's dissapointment) only the standard 4 pickles were served.  They were good though and raised the expectations for the evening.  The (botted) Cobra was cold but not very cold.

Expectations were somewhat dashed, however, by the curries.  The flavour and texture of Phil's Dhansak was more akin to a Madras with no discernable lentils.  Bob felt that his Korma was OK but nothing special.

The dissapointment carried over to the vegetables.  The Sag Aloo was quite good but the Muttar Paneer was, in Phil's opinion, absolutely awful.  It had peas, with added onion that seemed to be served in melted cheddar.  In very short order the dish had congealed into lumps of peas stuck together.

The service was mixed.  From a very pleasant welcome and intial interactions it fell away to bordering on indifference. Having said that there were plenty of regulars who were met and greeted like old friends. special

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

In total a rather disapointing 68.  Not the lowest score by a long chalk but below average.

Summary.....

Regency Tandoori - Westgate on Sea

On previous trips to Thanet Bob & Phil had only spotted one curry house.  Having reviewed that one only recently a new one had to be found.  Thanks to a certain search engine another was quickly found so armed with the details of the Regency Tandoori (and directions from the last delivery) Bob & Phil set off also buoyed by some pretty good reviews that Mr G had thrown up.

The Regency Tandoori is located in a parade of shops opposite Westgate railway station.  There is plenty of street parking available in the evening and fortunately (given the rain on the day of the visit) the parade of shops has a covered walkway.

The restaurant itself was a little tired looking inside and was rather too dimly lit but we were shown to a table and the drinks order taken immediately.  Having said that it seemed to be very popular and quite busy for a midweek.

The Papadums were warm and fresh and served with the traditional 4 dips (Bob was disappointed to note this given his recent experience of 6) and the (bottled) Cobra was nicely cold although rather indifferently poured by the waiter.

The curries were both very good.  The menu indicated that Bob's Butter Chicken is marinated overnight and he felt that this was reflected in the depth of flavour (along with a couple of different flavours too).  Phil's Dhansak was everything he expected with the addition of a slight fruity note (Phil thought initially that this was pineapple but then couldn't make his mind up if it was mango or not which Bob thought funny).

The Vegetables were again very good.  Both with their own distinct flavours but  Bob felt that the Muttar Paneer was quite similar to his Butter Chicken and Phil was a little disappointed by not being able to taste the sweetness of the peas (a sign of being slightly overcooked).

The service and ambience let the side down.  Neither Bob nor Phil could remember the last time a waiter did not enquire about the meal whilst it was being eaten and they couldn't decide whether this was arrogance or indifference.  An odd number of after dinner treats were served and the after dinner napkins were practically thrown on the table!

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

In total 78 points placing it just outside the top 10.

In summary a very good curry let down by poor service.  An average score for Service would have seen the Regency in the top 10.  A significantly improved experience from our previous Thanet visit, however!

Addendum: There was a couple who decided to stay and have a drink or two rather than walk home in the pouring rain.  It rained very heavily all night in Kent so Bob & Phil are wondering where that couple may be now and in what state!!

Shad - Herne Bay

Not all deliveries go smoothly and it was one such delivery this evening that saw Bob and Phil finally arrive at a curry house rather later than anticipated.  The Shad in Herne Bay was a Restaurant that they had visited on several occasions BB (Before Blog) so they had decided that it was about time it was added.

The Shad has been open for many years.  It is located in William Street in Herne Bay and there is usually plenty of parking available in the evenings on the Sea Front which is just around the corner.  A converted Bank, the Shad is nicely decorated (Bob recognised some of the wall art as having been available in the Shop) and lit with a combination of blue and white spot lights that create an interesting effect.

The (draft) Cobra was not very cold and was quickly served along with the Papadums which were nicely warm and Phil felt a little greasy.  The pickles, however, were excellent – a choice of 6 no less including both sweet and savoury mango.  Bob was delighted.

The curries were a bit mixed.  Phil felt his Dhansak was nicely balanced, a good texture and a hint of sweetness coming through.  Bob was disappointed by the lack of Butter Chicken but felt that the Korma was OK but nothing special.

The vegetables were a different choice too.  There was no Muttar Paneer on the menu so a Sag Paneer and Mumbai Paneer were chosen instead (the latter being Potatoes and Cheese).  The rice was on the whole good although Phil kept finding pieces of cinnamon bark in his.

The service was good.  Attentive but not overbearing but both Phil and Bob noted that their plates, although clean, were marked and should have been replaced.

Area	Phil	Bob
Beer	7	6
Papadum	8	10
Curry	9	8
Rice & Vegetables	8	8
Service & Ambiance	7	7

A respectable 78 - just outside the top 10 but there are two from Herne Bay that have scored higher!

Mehfil - Charing

Located on the main road from Charing to Canterbury (the A252).  Mehfil is the 2nd restaurant that you will see on your right when heading away from Charing.  Until about 3 months ago this restaurant was known as Kerala Spice and was reviewed by Bob & Phil in September 2012.  The restaurant is now much easier to spot from the road, however, due to clever use of lighting.

Mehfil's building was undoubtedly a pub or night club in its past history.  The feel, however, still remains despite the obvious redecoration that has gone on.

Bob & Phil learned a new trick tonight with the Papadums.  They were served on a hot plate so that the last one remained as warm as the first.  Others please note!!  The dips were a bit of a mixed back, though.  Phil enjoyed the onion but was a little disappointed about the lack of a lime pickle.  Bob found that the raita, mango and third dip (which neither he nor Phil could identify) were strangely acidic - either lemony or vinegary.  Top marks for the Papadums, not so for the dips!

The curries were very generous portions.  Bob felt that his was good but lacking something that he couldn't quite put his finger on.  Phil felt that his Dhansak was more like a Pathia - the texture of the lentils was there but the peppery flavour that he normally gets was completely drowned by tomato.  Also his meat was a little overcoooked to the point where some of it had shredded in the sauce.

The rice & vegetables were another mixed bag.  The rice was nice and hot and had a good mix of ingredients but the muttar paneer let things down a little.  Phil normally finds that the pepperyness of his dhansak works well with the iron of the Sag and the gentle flavour of the potato and that this is then a nice contrast to the sweetness of the peas and the texture of the paneer.  Tonight, however, the peas were rather bland and the paneer - although there in slices - was rather textureless and didn't have that squeaky bight to it.

The service could not be faulted.  Attentive and knowledgeable and very happy to talk about the differences in types of curry.  The waiters asked for constructive feedback on our experience and this led to an interesting conversation about the development of "Indian" cuisine in the UK,  Both waiters were clearly passionate about the business of curry!  5 out of 5.  The ambience, sadly, is still not quite there - and neither Bob nor Phil could figure out what is lacking.

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

The total of 75 is not quite as good as its predecessor but both Bob & Phil left feeling that Mehfil has got potential - a bit of work on making the restaurant feel less like a night club and a new carpet would go a long way to improving the ambience.  It is certainly better than their rivals at the top of the hill.

Bob and Phil are looking forward to their next delivery in the Charing area!

Raj Bari - Whitstable

This location has previously been reviewed twice under it former name of  Fusion Spice Lounge.  Following a local delivery, Bob and Phil decided to revisit to see how it had changed under new management.  Long standing visitors to Whitstable will remember the location as that of Giovanni's restaurant.

The Papadums were served warm and unfortunately slightly burned with the bitter taste that this brings.  The dips were the usual combination and well received.  The (draft) Cobra was nice and cold.

Bob's Butter Chicken was a completely different take on what he normally expects and jolly good it was too - even served with a knob of butter melting slowly into the dish.  Phil's Dhansak was OK if a little on the bland side.

The bland theme unfortunately continued into the vegetables with the Muttar Paneer being  a rather tasteless goo without lumps of paneer nowhere to be seen.  The excellent rice and very good Sag Aloo rescued the score somewhat.

The service was attentive and it was pleasing to be served hot towels at the end of the meal but the ambience is still not quite right.  The restaurant has been decorated and refurbished but the structure and layout doesn't seem to lend itself to an indian restaurant - although Phil was very pleased to note that the awful music from before has changed!

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

In total a respectable 79 - not quite making the top 10 but a significant improvement over its previous incarnation.

Summary.....

The Ali Raj - Margate

Following a rather tricky delivery in Cliftonville, Bob & Phil decided to revisit a restaurant that they had been to before in the "pre-blog" days.  A restaurant that they had thought quite reasonable in those early days of curryness.

The Ali Raj is located at the Westbrook end of Margate on the A28 near the Sea Bathing Hospital.  Although the road is a busy one, there is street parking available outside and along the whole parade of shops in which the restaurant is located.  It is nicely lit and looks to have been fairly recently renovated.  We were greeted at the door and shown to our table and given our Menus which Phil felt resembled the type found in a transport cafe rather than restaurant.

The Papadums were warm and fresh although a couple were slightly burned and, accordingly had a rather bitter taste.  The (draft) Cobra was served cold and, following the earlier exertions, well received!  There was something about the dips, however, that felt different.  Neither Bob nor Phil could put their finger on why.

The curries were a bit of a mixed bag.  They were served in generous proportions.  Bob felt his was OK if a little overcooked but Phil's was too hot almost to the point of unpleasantness - heat simply conquered all!

The Sag Aloo was nicely flavoured (and Phil felt a great cooling option) but the Muttar Paneer was a rather strange concoction of peas in a cheese sauce and was a bland goo.  Both Bob and Phil were disappointed not to see lumps of cheese.

The service was pleasant and friendly but not over attentive.

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

In total 66

Having had rather fond memories of a good curry here in previous visits, Bob & Phil were rather surprised by the scores.  Was it just a bad night or were Bob & Phil looking back through rose tinted spectacles?

Chatni - Canterbury

After bemoaning about the lack of curry houses in Canterbury in a previous post, Bob and Phil were delighted to discover a new restaurant had opened up.  An evening delivery to Lyminge meant a return journey through the city and a very short detour found Bob and Phil outside the doors.

Chatni is located on St Peter's Street, not far from the Westgate Towers on one of the main shopping roads in Canterbury.  As such it is ideally located for the tourist trade.  As with every other business in Canterbury City Centre, parking is to be found in one of the many pay and display car parks around the city (visitors please note that hours of operation are from 07:00 until 21:00).

Many of the buildings on St Peter's Street date back in time and Chatni is no exception with many beams to be seen on entrance although the extension to the rear is modern.

The restaurant itself is quite modern in style although Phil was pleased to note the absence of coloured lighting.  It was noticeable that there was no music.

The (Bottled) beers arrived promptly but not so the Papadums.  When they eventually did arrive they were warm and fresh and lightly salted.  Phil was disappointed to note the absence of a lime pickle but agreed with Bob that the Mango Chutney was very nice indeed.

The curries were on the whole a disappointment.  Bob felt that his Butter Chicken was somewhat boring and lacking in flavour.  Phil on the other hand could not get past the overwhelming chilli that spoilt his Dhansak. Both felt, however, that the temperature of the dishes could have been warmer and towards the end of the meal the dishes were getting quite cold having not been served on dish warmers.

The vegetables were a bit of a mixed bag.  The Sag Aloo (Aloo Palak) was nicely flavoured and mild but the Muttar Paneer was rather bland.

The service on the whole could best be described as slow and perfunctory.  Bob felt that a Friday or Saturday night would likely result in many disappointed diners!  Phil was also concerned to note that the place mats on the tables appeared to belong to a different restaurant (2nd hand?)

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

In total a quite disappointing 62, sadly placing it in the bottom 5 restaurants visited.

From the outside Chatni looks nice and the meal started well but appearances can be deceptive.  Given its location, it is likely to attract the tourist trade and not many will come back!

The Amber Fort - Beckenham

The weather gods did not want Bob & Phil to go anywhere tonight.  They created a sink hole to close the M2 and gridlock everywhere between Gillingham, Sittingbourne & Faversham. They blew winds to close the QE2 bridge and, with it, turn the other Motorways in Kent into car parks.  And as a final challenge they decided that if Bob & Phil dared to venture out they were going to get wet.  But the show must go on and a customer in Beckenham needed their dining table and chairs......

Delivery over, with a kind recommendation in hand, Bob and Phil turned up at the Amber Fort in Elmers End Road.

The Amber Fort is a modern restaurant located in a parade of shops in Elmers End Road.  There is plenty of street parking available on the road outside.  It looks clean and modern with bold colours and colourful decorations.

The (draft) Cobra was nicely cold and served promptly along with the Papadums which were warm and fresh.  There was a selection of 5 Pickles although Bob didn't particularly like the onion ones.

Phil thought his Dhansak was very good indeed, the earthy taste of the lentils came through along with a good balance of sweetness and heat.  Bob was a little disappointed with his Butter Chicken, however, as he felt that there was a little flavour lacking and that it was slightly overcooked as his chicken was a little rubbery (Phil resisted the crack about "Grad you're enjoying it...")

The Sag Aloo was very good but, sadly, the Muttar Paneer was very bland, the peas tasteless and no real sweetness in the sauce.

The service was polite and picked up after a rather aloof start (we were pointed to a table rather than shown to it).  It culminated in terry towels at the end of the meal and we were offered a complementary drink at the end.

Area	Phil	Bob
Beer	8	9
Papadum	8	7
Curry	9	6
Rice & Vegetables	7	7
Service & Ambiance	8	8

In total a respectable 77.  Above average but not on the leaderboard.

Gandhi - Herne Bay

It was a return visit to a regular customer in Hawkinge this evening.  Although (or perhaps because) it is close to Folkestone, there are no curry houses on the route from Canterbury and this was giving Bob & Phil cause for concern - a matter they happened to bring up with a Rep that co-incidentally called into the shop today.  It was at said Rep's suggestion that a slight detour was made on the way back to try Gandhi which is a regular haunt whenever he visits his son in Herne Bay.  Names cannot be divulged but - Great Scott!! it was a good call.

Gandhi has been established in Herne Bay for nearly 30 years but unless you are a local you would not know it is there.  Not in the main tourist areas, it is located slightly away from the popular areas in Station Road.

On entry it has a tradtional feel about it, perhaps slightly crossed with a pub with its wood panelled walls, wood & glass partitions and its subdued lighting.

The Papadums were warm and fresh and lightly salted and of the fine variety as opposed to the slightly thicker ones that are often served.  They appeared with the usual pickles and dips along with (bottled) Cobras that seemed to have more flavour than the norm.  An "amuse-bouche" of deep fried aubergine was also kindly provided.

Phil's Dhansak was nicely presented and, although not on the menu, Bob's Butter Chicken was prepared to order.  Both were very generous portions and well received.  From Phil's point of view it was everything he expected from a Dhansak.  Bob found that his flavours were "different" to the norm but enjoyed it nevertheless.

The Muttar Paneer was sweetly flavoured and not so overpowering as to allow the natural taste of the Peas to come through.  The Sag Aloo, although unusually dry in nature, was also cooked in a way to allow the different flavours of the vegetables to come through.  Phil did feel, however, that the potatoes needed more seasoning.

The service was excellent - polite and attentive, yet not overbearing.  Bob & Phil particularly liked the amuse-bouche and offer of complementary digestif.  Being extremely picky, the napkins were of the "baby wipe" style as opposed to terry towel although it should be acknowledged that they were opened and served rather than just presented on a plate.

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

In addition, Bob wished to add another point to reflect both the amuse-bouche and digestif but couldn't decide where to put it.  Which gives a total score of 87 putting Gandhi joint top of our leader board.

There is always a danger that, following a few weeks without a curry (and in Phil's case January was an alcohol free detox month too) an excitement can lead to over scoring and Bob & Phil discussed this ahead of preparing the blog entry.  The conclusion reached, though was that this was an excellent curry and deserved its very good score.