Amontola, 8-10 Queens Road

Let me set the scene. It was a dismal, drizzly, cold Tuesday evening in mid-January. Nobody much was about, and although Richmond looked a delightful little town, the weather was not conducive to walking about. Therefore, after taking refuge in a couple of pubs, I went in the restaurant looking forward to enlivening my evening with a good curry dinner.

The restaurant, which was on the first floor, was spacious, seating about 75 with plenty of room between the tables. However, its spaciousness was emphasised because, like the town outside, it was virtually empty, having just one table with four people there (and they left shortly afterwards leaving me in solitary splendour). Nevertheless, it was comfortable enough, with a pleasant red décor and, should the single diner like me want something to look at, a screen mounted on the wall at one end was showing Indian dancing (without sound I am pleased to say).

I started with Onion Bhajias, which were served almost immediately (microwaved). They comprised two large bhajias on a good salad garnish and riata, but not quite as hot (temperature) or crisp as usual (inexpertly microwaved!), but enjoyable for all that.

My main dish of Chicken Tikka Garlic – also served with startling rapidity (more microwaving?) - was, I am sorry to say, a disappointment. Described as medium hot, it was not really very hot (although I accept that this is relative), but my main disappointment was that it had no definitive flavours at all. It was just a very tired, lifeless dish without any distinction of taste or vitality about it. The only real zip was to nibble the large chilli on top.  It was not dissimilar to a supermarket or mass factory-produced curry, and very dull. The Mixed Vegetable Bhaji that I had with it was equally lifeless, and had a curiously similar dullness of taste to the main dish. The service was good, as I would expect seeing as though I was the only one there, and portions/prices were about average.

Overall I was very disappointed, and felt it was no more than mediocre. I noted that the menu states that 'All dishes are cooked to individual order so delay is inevitable'. This was patently untrue in this instance as my dishes were certainly not cooked to order, appearing almost miraculously quickly. Also on the menu, and also shown outside, was stated that it was ‘An award winning restaurant highly recommended by the Cobra Good Curry Guide’. This claim is a little dubious, as while it’s possible it appeared in a  Good Curry Guide years ago, it certainly has not appeared in recent editions, nor would it have been ‘highly recommended’ or won an award by the guide (I can’t believe it ever made the ‘Top 100’). The menu also gives a quote (source unknown!) saying that it is “the best restaurant in Richmond”. I find this a little ambitious to say the least (I pity the poor people of Richmond if this is the case), and if someone really did say that, then perhaps they should get out more.

Taking the most charitable view, perhaps it was not the best time to visit (midweek, out of season and possibly the chef taking advantage of the quietness for some time off), but this small sample of their food didn’t encourage me to go back.

 Malcolm Wilkins – January 2005