Shobab - Whitstable

With deliveries beginning to dry up. Bob & Phil felt the need for a social event.  You can't have a social event without a curry (in Bob & Phil's book anyway) so Whitstable, being the closest source of curry houses was the chosen venue.  As it was a social it was also decided to go where they knew they would enjoy it so Shobab - probably the best curry house in town - was their destination.

Unlike other Whitstable curry houses that have upped sticks and moved, Shobab remains at the Harbour Street end of the High Street.  For those of you that like to navigate via Pubs it is between the Royal Naval Reserve and Duke of Cumberland on the same side as "The Naval" (as it is colloquially known)

Bob & Phil were shown to the same table as a few short months previously (last review 30/8) and, as expected, the (draught) Cobras were nicely cold.  There was a short wait for for the Pappadums but they were nicely fresh and warm.  Phil did think that the Lime pickle was a little salty - something that he had noted recently elsewhere - the same supplier or had Phil's tastebuds changed.

This being a social event, Phil decided to go for something different and chose a Sikandari Rann (a curried lamb shank) whilst Bob was still rather misty eyed about his Butter Chicken from the previous visit.  Perhaps it was because of Phil's unusual choice but from here on in the service became rather slow.

When the curries arrived, however, they were well worth the wait.  Bob loved the depth of flavours in his Butter Chicken and Phil was extremely pleased with the richness without too much heat of the Lamb shank which both Bob & Phil thought was extremely well presented.

The vegetables were as expected a perfect foil for the main dishes and this time Bob didn't feel that the Muttar Paneer was a butter chicken in disguise!

If there was one area where the Shobab let itself down it was with the service.  Paper napkins may be cheaper that laundering cloth ones but they really do detract from the experience.  The service was on the slow side - and at one point Bob & Phil could hear a lot of shouting and arguing (they guessed from the tone of voices) from the kitchen.  There were no postprandial napkins and on leaving there was no-one wishing them goodnight......little things mean a lot!!

Area	Phil	Bob
Beer	9	9
Papadum	8	7
Curry	9	10
Rice & Vegetables	9	8
Service & Ambiance	6	5

                

In total a very good 80 which with a little bit of effort could have been a table topping score

The Shobab remains head and shoulders above the other Whitstable Curry Houses in terms of their food but perhaps they know it and it is leading to a lack of care in the customer service area.