BASSANT, 25/26 MILTON ROAD

This one opened on 11^th July 2003, advertising itself as serving Punjabi cuisine and Indian sweets, and taking the form of a large, airy unpretentious cafeteria style restaurant. It probably seats some 50 to 60 in all. The counter covers glass display cabinets containing samosas, snacks and Indian sweets while a single stove behind is where the cooking is done. It also has a bar. It always has a good number of Asians - families eating or men using it as a bar and a few snacks.

I visited a few days after it opened and the menu was quite limited, the service rather chaotic and amatuerish, and the food lacking the usual robust spicing associated with Punjabi cuisine and extremely salty. I wasn't particularly impressed and said at the time that the food just wasn't good enough to tempt me back. However, perhaps it was unfair to judge before they had got their act together, particularly as I had heard one or two more positive reports, so I revisited six months later. I'm glad I did as things were much better all round, and consequently I have been several times since. Even the seating arrangements had been changed from long lines of tables canteen-style as it was originally.

For starters we've had Aloo Tikki, Samosas, and Onion Bhajias. The Aloo Tikka (2 spiced potato patties) were very tasty and the Onion Bhajias (large, flat style) much better than on the previous visit (as they should be as they cost a minimal 40p then, while now they are £1.50, but still cheap). Samosas good  - the same as can be bought in local Indian grocers.

For the main meals we've ranged through Jalfrezi, Madras, Meat Keema, and Dhansak with rice, various vegetable curries and Chapattis. All have been good, and unlike my first experience, had plenty of spicing. I can only think the chef on the first occasion was a novice standing in, or proved unacceptable so didn't last. The food can be prone to being salty on occasions - this seems to vary - although nowhere near as much as on the first visit.

The menu has been expanded from the original, and prices are a little higher but it is still cheap. Portions may not satisfy the hearty eater, but were adequate and perfectly acceptable for the price. Service had also improved to a normal standard.

All in all it is now a good Indian eatery, more along the lines of those found in Indian communities, with the food and ambience being more authentic than the average high street restaurant.  

Malcolm Wilkins - July 2004