I’m not sure if I should be publicising this one, but it does appear in the Good Curry Guide and it seems to be increasingly used by all and sundry rather than YMCA residents for whom it was originally intended. No problem getting in and all comers seem to be welcome.

Take no notice of the reception desk at the entrance - just walk straight in to the canteen on the ground floor (turn right at reception), take a tray and queue up with the others, choose your fancy of the various curries on display, pay at the cash till and sit anywhere (you may have to share a table - it’s always crowded). Jugs of water are on each table and the food is unpretentious Indian canteen cooking. No sophisticated variations - just straightforward dishes such as lamb curry, chicken curry, various vegetable curries, boiled or pilau rice etc. .The prices are extremely reasonable (at the date of this report I had pilau rice, chicken curry, vegetable curry and three onion bhajias for £5.95).

Although canteen style it is clean, tidy and comfortable with friendly people. Everyone seems to be welcome - in fact as the years have rolled by there have been an increasing number of non-Asian, and now there are far more white faces than Asian. Open at lunch times only between 12.30 and 1.45 and although it may not be everyone’s ideal for impressing a new lady friend or the boss, it’s very good for a basic, no nonsense good value curry lunch.

Malcolm Wilkins - September 2006