Menu covers all the regular dishes and one or two that are slightly different (for example the Shagorana looked different - Tandoori Chicken with mincemeat - and also sounded interesting. Next time I’ll ask my wife if she fancies a Shagorana!). However, a curates egg of a place over the years, as the following sequence shows.

I first visited in 1998, and again about a year later. On those occasions I reported that "all the dishes were good formula standard. Chicken Dhansak in a tasty, thick very lentilly sauce (thicker than average but OK) and all other dishes were fine". I also reported that the "service was efficient, portions good and all in all it was a competent high street curry house standard meal".

Last year I was told that it had changed hands a few years ago (since my last visit) so I decided it was time for a review. However, as they offer a delivery service I decided on a take-away delivery before going for a sit down. It’s as well I did.

Not having an up to date menu I ordered from my old one and asked how much it would be. The order taker didn’t know, and after hanging on a few minutes for him to find out he still didn’t know. Not an encouraging start! I asked for a new menu to be included with the order which, I was told, would be delivered in about 30 - 40 minutes. After an hour, and just when I was going to telephone to enquire, I received a phone call from the delivery man. He had been given the wrong address. Again, hardly encouraging.

When the food eventually arrived - and without the requested new menu - they were the smallest portions I have seen for some time, particularly the Mixed Vegetable Curry which was minuscule. The taste was also rather indifferent - Chicken Tikka Pathia hot, but just with chilli and little underlying flavour. Mixed Vegetable (what there was of it) also lacked flavour while Tarka Dall and Vegetable Rice were average.

I thought the price a little high when it was delivered (considerably higher than take-away meals I have from other local outlets) and so, determined to get a menu as well as check the price I drove out the following evening. I discovered that I had been overcharged by £2.50, on top of prices which were slightly more than other take-aways. I mentioned this and the small portions and the reply was ‘it was a Saturday night and they were busy’. Not really an good excuse for under supplying while over charging and, as you might gather, I abandoned my plan to visit for a sit down.

That was January last year, so I thought it time to give it another chance. Again I was disappointed. The portions were back to a reasonable size, but the food was very average. The Chicken Tikka Dhansak was a poor example, both of chicken tikka and Dhansak - it tasted more like roast chicken in a stew. The Vegetable Rice had a faint burnt taste to it, while all other dishes were pretty bog standard. Mediocre in my view, and it will be a while before it gets a further review. 

Malcolm Wilkins - March 2003