Taste of India

40 Oxford Street Whitstable has been the home of a number of Indian Restaurants over the years and, after a break of a few years as a bistro, it is now the home of Taste of India.

Opened in August/September 2023 and on Bob and Phil's "must get round to visiting it" list ever since, a cold January evening and the time finally arrived.

Situated opposite Whitstable Library, there is fairly limited street parking nearby and the nearest public car park in Middle Wall is about a 5 minute walk away.

The restaurant is decorated in a modern fashion and nicely welcoming - although to Phil the dining area seemed smaller than some of its predeccesors and can probably only accomodate around 30 covers  On arrival, Bob and Phil were the first diners of the evening and were promptly shown to a table.  They were not on their own for long, however, and in a short space of time the restaurant was about half full.

The (bottled) Cobra's were served promptly and Bob felt that they could have been a little colder.  The papadums were warm and fresh and served with a selection of 4 pickles although Bob found the Lime Pickle a little too lumpy.

The Curries arrived in due course and Phil thoroughly enjoyed his Dhansak which had a nice sweetness without the heat being too overpowering.  The texture of the sauce was good and plentiful.  Bob thought his Butter Chicken was good too and everything that he expected although the chicken was a little tough.

The Special Rices were hot and plentiful and the servings of Bombay Aloo and Chana Paneer were generous.  Phil felt that both vegetables worked well with his curry but Bob found the flavour of  the Chana Paneer too similar to his Butter Chicken.

There was on waiter on duty alongside the owner and there was a noticable difference in attitude between the two as the young waiter seemed somewhat hesitant and reserved and the polar opposite of the jovial owner.  The service on the whole, however, worked well and was well paced.

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

                

In total a very respectable 84

It was good to see a busy restaurant midweek on a cold winter's evening and it was clear from the greetings of some the diners that it has rapidly acquired a band of regular diners.  Bob and Phil wish the restaurant well!

Sipson Tandoori, Harmondsworth

Bob and Phil had a two car booking this afternoon to take a family to a hotel near Heathrow ahead of them flying off on holiday.  Having dropped at the hotel, they decided it would be a good idea to find a local curry house and a quick search online led Bob and Phil to choose the Sipson Tandoori...just less than 4 miles away.

Sipson Tandoori is a modern looking restaurant in a parade of shops at the junction of Harmondsworth Road and Sipson Road.  There is limited parking on the road outside of the parade and both Bob and Phil were able to park without too much problem.

Bob and Phil entered and were greeted cordially by a smartly dressed waiter and shown to a table under instruction of an even more smartly dressed head waiter.  The restaurant itself is nicely decorated with a modern theme and was spacious and airy with music being played in the background which did not detract from the ability to have a conversation.

The beer on tap at the Sipson Tandoori was Kingfisher rather than Cobra, perfectly acceptable and served nicely cold.  The pappadums arrived promptly and were nicely warm.  They were served with 5 different and very well received.

Bob tonight went for his usual Chicken Korma and Phil his Dhansak.  Both chose different rices - Special Fried and Keema respectively and vegetable wise a Sag Aloo and Muttar Paneer were the order of the day.  Bob was delighted with the combination of flavours and, at last, found a restaurant where the potatoes were not watery and flavourless.  Phil thought his Dhansak was excellent and agreed with Bob about the different flavours.  

The waiting staff were very attentive without being overbearing and during the meal Bob & Phil were pleased that the Head Waiter came to check that all was well and both were delighted to see the return of the post prandial napkins.

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

                

In total a magnificent 92!  The highest mark that they have ever awarded.

Since the post COVID restarting of the blog both Bob and Phil have been lamenting the quality of curries that they have experienced with many curry houses near them either closing or serving take aways only.  Sipson Tandoori shows that the art of a good curry house is far from dead and the only downside is that it is a 3 hour or more (depending on the M25!) trip to go for a meal there!

Spice of India - Horsford

A planned golfing trip gave Bob and Phil a chance to sample a restaurant far further afield than normal.  A quick Google of Indian Restaurants near Taverham and up popped Spice of India in Horsford - a mere 7 minutes drive from where they were staying.  Bob felt it would have been rude not to try it out.

The Spice of India is a converted pub in the village of Horsford.  Nicely externally decorated and appointed with a pub car park sized car park Bob and Phil eagerly entered.

Inside was equally nicely decorated and Bob and Phil were quickly shown to a table.  For a Sunday evening there were a few tables occupied and more were filled during Bob and Phil's meal.

Orders placed, the (Draught) Cobras arrived promptly and were as cold as they should be and very well received.  They were shortly followed by the Papadums which were fresh and warm but, to Bob's disappointment, only 3 pickles were served and there was no Raita to be seen.  With a bit of encouragement from Phil, Bob tried the Lime Pickle and surprised himself by quite liking it.

There was a short wait for the curries and Bob felt that his Chicken Malayne was well balanced and went well with his special rice.  Phil decided that his Chicken Dhansak was the best he had experienced since the return of the blog.  They were both very disappointed with the Aloo Gobi and Muttar Paneer.  Phil described them as frozen mixed vegetables served in a slightly spiced (but otherwise tasteless) tomato based sauce.  Very disappointing.

The service was conspicuous by its absence.  The only time waiters appeared were to take and serve the orders.  Bob even struggled to attract attention when it was time to pay as the waiter seemed far more engrossed in his phone rather than his customers.  Phil was very displeased by the lack of hot towels at the end of the meal.

Area	Phil	Bob
Beer	9	8
Papadum	8	8
Curry	9	9
Rice & Vegetables	5	4
Service & Ambiance	4	4

                

In total a rather average 67

Spice of India has great potential - a lovely venue and superb curries.  It was almost as if vegetables and service do not matter.

Gandhi, Herne Bay 9 Years later!

Phil & Bob often find that the subject of Curry comes up on their journeys too or from Airports and, on one such journey, Gandhi in Herne Bay came up.  Phil remembered that it had been reviewed in the past but was shocked to see that it was a long, long, time ago - in February 2014 in fact.  A quick call was made to Bob and thus the venue for tonight's curry was set.

Locals will tell you that Gandhi has been there for years (and Bob and Phil can vouch for at least 9 of those).  Located at the High Street end of Station Road, there is street parking nearby.

Stepping down into the restaurant there is a definite feel of a "traditional" curry house with, in places, the flock wallpaper still hanging.  That is not so say that it needs redecoration - far from it - but it adds to the feeling of having been there for ever.

The (Bottled) Cobra's arrived promptly and were nicely cold and shortly followed by fresh Papadums that were nicely warm!  Four pickles were also served.  Bob was unhappy that there was a lime pickle and not the powdered coconut pickle that he prefers.  Phil thought that the mango chutney had a really good tang to it.  Alongside the Papadums a little taster of Aubergine Fritters were offered and well received.

Phil was delighted to find that Chicken Dhansak was still on the menu and was not disappointed.  It was nicely presented, the sauce had the right texture and there was a delightful sweetness to offset the heat.  Bob chose the Korma and was not impressed with the lack of flavour and he felt it almost watery.  Given the lack of Special rice at their last venue, the boys decided to continue off piste with Phil opting for a very nice Keema rice and Bob choosing a Tikka rice (which he thought was better than his Curry!)

In an attempt at standardisation, they opted for Chana Massala - which both enjoyed and Phil in particular thought had a very distinct flavour that worked well with his Dhansak - and Bombay Aloo - which was again disappointed and left Bob wondering why anyone had bothered to dig the potatoes up if their fate was to end up as a bland lump on a dish.

The service was not how Bob and Phil remembered it from before.  Their waiter, whilst not rude, seemed to just be going through the motions and not really engaged.  It should be noted, however, that hot towels are not a thing of the past everywhere - even if they are of the "microwaved" variety.

Area	Phil	Bob
Beer	8	8
Papadum	8	8
Curry	9	5
Rice & Vegetables	7	7
Service & Ambiance Bonus	7 1	6 1

                

A total of 75 which is quite a way below the previous score 9 years ago.

The score left Phil and Bob wondering whether their standards had changed over time of if the Post COVID era has led to lower standards.  Having said that 8 of the 10 tables in the restaurant were occupied which seemed remarkable for a Wednesday evening so it remains popular with the local clientele.  Gandhi should also be congratulated for its durability as many other curry houses have come and gone.

Flavours by Kumar, Ramsgate

It is said that time flies like an arrow (and fruit flies are partial to a banana) and, in the blink of an eye, years have passed and things change.  Bob no longer runs a furniture shop and both he and Phil can be seen on the various motorways around Gatwick and Heathrow as they both now drive Private Hire vehicles specialising in airport transfers.

Without the need to deliver furniture in the evening the excuse for a curry was lost but now, following recommendations from various passengers, it is back!

So Phil dusted off his notebook; Bob dusted off his taste buds and for the first time in nearly 6 long curry free years a destination was set.  Flavours by Kumar in Ramsgate.

Flavours is located on Effingham Street in Ramsgate, close to the junction with Queen Street.  There is no obvious street parking nearby but there is a pay and display car park in Cavendish Street a couple of minutes’ walk away.

It may be because there were external redecorations in progress but the entrance was slightly confusing as the door had “exit only” emblazoned on it but Bob and Phil made it inside and were shown to a table.  It is worth noting that, for a Wednesday evening, there were several tables occupied with more arrivals during Bob and Phil’s meal so they were left with an impression that it was a popular venue with the locals.

The (bottled) Cobras arrived quite quickly and were cold but not quite cold enough.  Bob and Phil were then presented with a small amuse-bouche (if there is such an Indian equivalent) of a nicely presented aubergine fritter which was both welcome and tasty.

The pupadums were soon to follow with assorted Chutneys.  Bob was a little disappointed that there were only three chutneys and, bizarrely, Phil struggled with the onions (he felt the way that they were cut made them difficult to eat).   Bob also felt that the pupadums themselves were bordering on becoming stale.

With the pupadums consumed, another amuse-bouche was to follow in the shape of a very flavoursome cup of soup following which the main courses were served.  Bob chose his normal Chicken Korma but Phil was dismayed that there was not a Dhansak in sight and, instead, settled for a Gosht Mughlai.  Also missing from the menu was a special rice dish so both settled for an egg rice and they shared sides of Chana Masala and Bombay Aloo.

Phil did enjoy his curry - not initially hot but it crept up on him - but Bob felt that his choice was rather bland.  They were both disappointed with the Bombay Aloo – with Bob commenting that the potatoes should have been left in the ground but felt that the Chick Peas were very good.

The service was well paced and not overbearing and the amuse-bouche courses were a nice innovation.  It was also disappointing to note, however, that towels were not provided at the end of the meal and Phil was left wondering whether they had become a casualty of Covid.

All in all a bit of a mixed bag with the scoring as follows

Area	Phil	Bob
Beer	7	7
Papadum	6	6
Curry	8	3
Rice & Vegetables	7	7
Service & Ambiance Bonus for Amuse-Bouches*	7 2	6 2

*2 bonus points awarded by both for the amuse-bouches

                

In total a somewhat disappointing 68

It was great to be back out currying again but it does feel that things have changed.  Both Bob and Phil have noticed that many of the curry houses that they knew and loved have fallen by the wayside and Phil is worried that Chicken Dhansak no longer features on the menus!  After so long away it is difficult to judge whether the scoring has been harsh.  Only time will tell

Namaste at the Swingate Inn, Dover

Back in August Bob & Phil were anticipating a curry in Dover which morphed into somewhere else.  Well, 4 months further on the chance came again and, with the recommendation of the customer's son off they set to Namaste.

Those with knowledge of the Dover area will recognise the Swingate Inn as, well, and Inn on the Dover to Deal road.  Well it is an Inn but the ground floor has now been taken over by an Indian Restaurant - Namaste.

Restaurant wise it is very modern and has in interesting twist - the kitchen is open plan so you can see your curry being cooked.  It was surprisingly busy for a Tuesday evening and Phil counted at least 7 other sets of diners as they were shown to their table.

The (draught) Cobras arrived in short order.  Cool but not cold enough for either Bob or Phil's liking.

The Pappadums took a few minutes to arrive and were different to what Bob and Phil normally expect.  Phil's best description was very thin oatcakes, Bob just thought that they were Bland.  Phil was also disappointed by the lack of onion.

The menu seemed to be limited to a smaller than usual selection and Phil was initially dismayed to be unable to find a Dhansak.  Having read through the menu he went for a Chicken Dhabba - described as Indian Street Food - whilst Bob went for a Butter Chicken.  The consensus of both was that the sauce was far too thin and runny - more akin to a gravy than a sauce.  Bob did enjoy his Butter Chicken though whilst Phil thought that is Dhabba was rather one dimensional with no depth of flavour.

The vegetables were a bit of a mixed bag.  Both Bob & Phil thought that the Chana Masalla was excellent but neither could work out the Sag Aloo which was a strange colour and flavour with what seemed to be overcooked potato slices.

The service was good considering how busy the restaurant was.  It has to be noted, however, that no post prandial towels were offered and neither were there chocolates to sweeten the bill.  Picky Phil also noted that the napkins were paper rather than cloth.

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

                

In total a below average 73.

Phil & Bob liked the concept of the open kitchen and noted that there were several easy marks that could have been earned.

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.

Joshan - Wye......Why?

A delivery to Ashford called for Bob & Phil.  On the way over Phil casually searched for nearby Curry Houses and up popped Joshan.

It has a very professional looking website and had good reviews so on the way back a detour was made to Wye..........and Bob & Phil, experts as they are at finding addresses couldn't find it!

Eventually after parking up and walking purposely through the village the location was found....boarded up and with all sorts of notices posted on the doors.

So you have closed the restaurant.....why not the website.

Bob & Phil were not impressed

Raj Venue - Canterbury

Following the disappointment of  the chosen restaurant's demise, (See Joshan, Wye) a frantic search by Phil unearthed a Canterbury Curry House that neither Phil nor Bob had noticed despite driving past it on a regular basis.

Raj Venue is located at the Westgate Towers end of St Dunstan's in Canterbury next door to the far better known (and obviously advertised) Cafe des Amis.  To say that its presence is understated is an understatement in itself as the name does not appear on the outside of the building!  Inside it is newly decorated and brightly lit.  There seemed to be two distinct areas with different seating and gave the overall impression of work in progress.

It took a couple of minutes for Bob & Phil to be greeted and shown to a table and that set the scene for the rest of the evening.  Unusually the Papadums arrived before the Cobras and they were quite fresh (but not warm).  The pickles included what Phil believed was an Onion and Beetroot chutney which he very much enjoyed.  The (draught) Cobras did eventually turned up and were well worth waiting for as they were nicely cold.

The papadums had long since been consumed before the curries arrived.  Both were very nicely presented.  Phil did think, though, that his Dhansak was excellent.  It had the right texture and flavours.  Bob, on the other hand, was very disappointed by his Korma.  He found no flavour whatsoever and was quickly bored.

It is worth pointing out that the portions were extremely generous, particularly the special rice which neither Bob nor Phil could finish.  The Muttar Paneer was enjoyed by both particularly as the flavour of the peas shone through over the sweet creamy sauce but the Bombay Aloo was very disappointingly bland.

Overall the service can best be described as slow which was somewhat surprising given there were only two tables occupied.

Area	Phil	Bob
Beer	9	10
Papadum	9	8
Curry	9	4
Rice & Vegetables	7	7
Service & Ambiance	6	6

 A creditable 75 despite Bob's curry!

Bob's unfortunate curry apart, Raj Venue could be the best curry house in Canterbury......if you can find it!

Star of Bengal - A new location in Whitstable

Until very recently the Star of Bengal was a small restaurant located opposite the Library on Oxford Street.  It is there no more.  Following weeks of rumours it has moved to the other end of town and is now located on Harbour Street - opposite the Duke of Cumberland.  Those that know Whitstable will recognise the site as the former home of the Shamrat Indian Restaurant which, it has to be said, was probably the least popular of Whitstable's Curry Houses.

The curry house move intrigued Phil and he persuaded Bob to come out on a non delivery based trip to see how the move went.  Was it a takeover? Was it a merger?  For those who may wish to compare, the previous review of the Star of Bengal can be found here.. http://bobandphilscurryblog.blogspot.co.uk/2012/07/star-of-bengal.html

As previously mentioned the Star of Bengal is now located at the High Street end of Harbour Street opposite the Duke of Cumberland pub.  There is some on street parking nearby and also 2 public car parks withing 3 minutes walk.  It has been freshly decorated and was quite brightly lit and can now cater for about double the number of diners than before.

Bob and Phil were greeted politely and shown to a table and the (bottled)  Cobra's arrived shortly after.  Phil felt that his wasn't quite cold enough but Bob didn't seem to mind too much.

The pappadums followed in fairly short order accompanied by the usual complement of pickles.  Sadly one of them was rather burnt and wasn't too pleasant.  Phil also felt that the Lime Pickle was a little too salty but Bob wouldn't know as he doesn't go anywhere near it!

The curries arrived in due course, Phil enjoyed his Dhansak which had the right texture and, unusually, pieces of chopped chilli added to the sauce.  Bob also found his Butter Chicken to be good too although he felt that the chicken may have been a little overcooked.  Both Bob & Phil were somewhat confused to find their meals served with plates regaled with the name of the previous restaurant at that site.

Phil chose to try the Bengal special rice for something different.  He enjoyed it and noted that it contained pieces of chicken and prawns as well as the usual vegetables found in the "normal" special fried rice that Bob went for. The Sag Aloo was OK but the Muttar Paneer was rather disappointing- it felt like lumps of cheese and frozen peas had simply been added to a packet cheese sauce mix.

The service was friendly and Bob & Phil were offered complementary drinks at the end along with the (microwaved) packet towels.

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

                

In total a rather below average 70.

So....the new venue has done little to improve on what Bob & Phil found before in the old location but from a site perspective, the restaurant is a significant improvement on what was there before.

India Royal - Faversham

A series of deliveries along the length of the A2 saw Bob & Phil end up in Faversham a mere two minutes walk from the India Royal which has always been a good venue.....it just had to be done!

Just along East Street, not far from the traffic lights on the corner, India Royal is a modern looking restaurant (although it has been there for many years).  Unusually Bob couldn't find a space in the nearby car park so had to use nearby on road parking.

The Papadums were exactly as expected, warm and fresh although Phil was a little disappointed to only see three pickles.  The (draught) Cobra was nicely cold and, as Phil felt, very needed after the deliveries.

Phil decided to do something different this evening and chose a Chicken Handi rather than the usual Dhansak.  He felt it was very good indeed with a very rich and deeply flavoured sauce with a gentle warmth.  Bob stuck to his usual Butter Chicken which had its usual creamy, smokey flavour that he has come to expect.

The Muttar Paneer was, Phil thought, an excellent contrast to the Handi but somehow the rich sauce of the curry seemed to overpower the Bombay Aloo.

Although it was exceptionally quiet - Bob & Phil were initially the only diners - the service felt very slow.  So much so that Bob had to get up and ask for the bill.

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

                

In total 82 - around what Bob & Phil have come to expect from this restaurant.

India Royal remains the best restaurant in Faversham!

Shobab - Whitstable

Sometimes things don't always go according to plan and the original target of Dover morphed into something closer to home and both Bob and Phil were surprised to find that one of the most popular restaurants in Whitstable had never been featured on the blog.

Shobab is located on Whitstable High Street towards the Harbour Street end.  There is limited on street parking nearby but two or three car parks are not far away.  It looks to have been neutrally decorated with the result that it doesn't feel like a traditional Indian Restaurant.

Bob and Phil were shown to a table and the Papadums arrived not far behind.  They were warm and fresh and Bob was pleased to see both a mint and a mango dip.  The (draught) Cobra's also arrived promptly and were very well received.

The curries took a little while coming but were well worth the wait.  Bob thoroughly enjoyed his Butter Chicken.  Phil felt that his Dhansak was good but lacked a little something that he couldn't quite put his finger on.

The Sag Paneer was very good with the combination of the flavours working well together.  Bob felt that the Muttar Paneer was a little to much like his Curry but Phil felt that it was a good contrast to his.

The service was a little on the slow side.  Phil noted that paper serviettes were used rather than cloth and there were no post curry towels served.  He did like the orange hint in the chocolates though!

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

                

In total a very creditable 80 putting it into the overall top 20 and just 4 marks short of the top 10. It is certainly the best in Whistable

Bob & Phil can unserstand why it is such a popular venue.

Kashmir Tandoori - Canterbury

After a quick trip over to the Canterbury side of Ashford Bob & Phil thought that it would be an idea to revisit a Canterbury Curry House.  Their previous favourite has closed so they decided to go back to the Kashmir Tandoori.

The Kashmir Tandoori is located on Palace Street in Canterbury which is part of the King's Mile.  There is no real parking near the restaurant but St Radigunds car park is a short walk away.  The decor of the restaurant reflects the age of the buildings with (some faux) beams exposed and low ceilings.  Many of the tables are set into little booths which gives it an intimate feel.

Bob and Phil were shown to a table towards the rear of the restaurant which was notably busy and Phil spotted a salt cellar on the table which is never a good omen!  To counter this the back of the menu proclaimed many awards including being in the top 100 UK Curry Houses for 3 years in the early 2000's and the memory of a high score just over a year ago.

The Papadums arrived very promptly indeed - before even the (draught) Cobras - and were sent back as several had strange brown (curry sauce we were told) stains on them.  The replacements were fresh but were let down somewhat by only three pickles two of which tasted identical and an onion pickle which only Phil likes.

There was quite a delay before the curries arrived - reflecting the busy nature of the restaurant.  Bob felt that his Butter Chicken was on the bland side which contrasted greatly with Phil's Dhansak which was very tasty indeed with the right texture and balance of flavours.

Unfortunately the rice was rather cool and the vegetable dishes were rather a disappointment.  The muttar paneer was virtually tasteless and Bob & Phil were surprised to find cabbage in the sauce that it was served in.  The cabbage was also to be found in the Sag Aloo which did have some flavour from the spinach.

The service was not unpleasant but a bit Fawlty Towers ish.  Phil did not like that the table cloth had stains on it (before Bob set to with the pickles!) and the hot plates had clearly seen better days and were in need of replacement.

Area	Phil	Bob
Beer	7	7
Papadum	5	4
Curry	9	6
Rice & Vegetables	4	3
Service & Ambiance	5	6

                

In total a very disappointing 56 putting Kashmir Tandoori in the bottom 3.

It is interesting to note that 2 of the bottom 3 restaurants that Bob & Phil have blogged are in Canterbury (and there is a third one also in the bottom 10).  Is it something about being in a tourist area that leads to an inconsistent result?

Tandoori Palace - Ditton

After weeks without a delivery, two come along in consecutive weeks.  This evening a trip to Ditton was called for and Bob had a chance during the day to do some research.  Tandoori Palace with a rating of 4.3 stars based on 26 reviews according to a certain well known search engine.

Located in a small lane just off the A20, Tandoori Palace is a converted Pub - the Walnut Tree - and accordingly has its own car park.  Large and recently decorated it looked clean and welcoming.  Bob and Phil were, however, the only diners.

The Papadums arrived promptly along with a selection of pickles.  Sadly they were not overly fresh and Bob was distressed to note a lack of raita with a red, onion based, pickle instead. Neither Bob nor Phil were impressed by this addition.  The (draught) Cobra was cold but not, they felt, cold enough.

The curries were nicely presented.  In the absence of a Butter Chicken Bob ordered a Chicken Labada (which, from the description, looked exactly the same).  Phil went for the usual Dansak.  Bob was a little disappointed with the blandness of the Labada.  Phil liked the texture of the Dansak but couldn't detect the sweetness.  He also didn't care for the little bits of chilli in it.

The Sag Aloo was very good but Mottar Paneer was garden peas (overcooked and tasteless) in a cheese sauce rather than the anticipated soft cheese lumps.  The rice, although nice, was a bit cold when it arrived.

The waiters were polite and attentive - but then again as Bob & Phil were the only diners they didn't have much else to do - although Phil did note a steady stream of takeaway deliveries leaving the restaurant.  Most disappointing though was the lack of hot towels with cold wipes being provided instead!

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

                

In total a rather uninspiring 67 - significantly below what was anticipated given the reviews online.

Perhaps Bob & Phil have different tastes to other online bloggers?