Ashford has three Indian restaurants in the town center plus a take away. The longest established was the Curry Garden at 31 Bank Street, which has been there since the early 1980’s until changing it's name and style in September 2002. Although the management remains the same it has been totally refurbished in the modern, trendy style (wooden floors etc) and changed it's name to Zarin. It’s probably the most comfortable, seating about 90 in its newly fashionable surroundings. The menu has also changed from being fairly standard to offering a range of less common dishes in addition to what it terms 'old favourites'.  I visited in July 2001 when it was Curry Garden, but was unimpressed, but a visit in summer 2003 showed a marked improvement.

The other two are in North Street, virtually opposite each other. The Little Raj at 20 North Street is in an attractive Tudor style building and has been under it’s present name since about the end of 1999. I was told that before that it was called Curry Cottage (and under the same ownership), although it couldn’t have been Curry Cottage for to long as I visited in the summer of 1997 when it was called Nawab. The other is the Curry Leaf at number 9, which looks a fairly standard set up. I believe this is probably the most recent as I didn't notice it when I was last at the Little Raj a few years ago.

(NB. There used to be another - the Monsoon (formerly Taj Mahal) in New Street (right opposite the army tank!), but now disappeared to be come a pizza outlet. I was also told there is or was one in New Street called Ashford Bengal Cuisine, but I couldn;t find it. Maybee it was short lived on the same premises, or maybe someone will tell me where it is!)

Also in Bank Street (at number 34a, almost opposite Zarin), is Nasrin which is a take-away only. Standard menu but the smell of old burned oil when I poked my head in was a little off putting.

Just out of the town centre, situated in Torrington Road to the south of town is Tandoori Nights - a small restaurant seating 32 in three separate rooms. Being the other side of the ring road which surrounds the town centre you would have to know where it is to find it and no doubt it thrives on local custom. To the north of town in the area (or village) of Kennington is the Kennington Tandoori at 158 Faversham Road.

Malcolm Wilkins - July 2009