Dartford’s first Indian restaurant, opening some 30 years ago. It has undergone a few redecoration’s over the years and currently it seats about 50 with most tables having ‘open’ partitions between. There is plenty of room between tables and it has a spacious feel to it. The menu is a comprehensive list of all the usuals.

The starter of Chicken Chot Poti was a combination of chick peas, pasta and small chicken pieces in a fairly mild sauce. A bit different but rather bland. However, the Reshmi Kebab starter was much more flavoursome being hot, spicy and extremely tasty. The main dishes of Meat Tikka Jalfrezi and Chicken Pathia were both excellent - the lamb in the Jalfrezi was well marinated, and fried in a robustly spiced mixture of chillies, onion and capsicum while the Pathia was also well spiced, and having a distinct sweet/sour combination in the sauce. Mixed Vegetable Bhaji very ordinary having a preponderance of carrot and only lightly spiced, but the Tarka Dall was first class. The rice which accompanied the Jalfrezi (included in the price) was like a vegetable rice and was excellent. The standard Pillau Rice and Paratha were just that - standard.

Service good and prices about average. Good portions and all in all a very enjoyable above average formula curry. The fact it seemed the most crowded of the four restaurants in town may bear testimony to it still retaining it’s popularity.

Malcolm Wilkins - July 2000