Delicious smells wafted under our nostrils when we passed this one earlier in the evening and this, together with it’s more down to earth atmosphere, gave it the vote over the other two in town for our evening curry.

A basic, plain, pleasant, open (ie no alcoves) restaurant seating 44 in comfortable seating (newish chairs, nice blue tablecloths) and a nice, welcoming bustling atmosphere. The head man was particularly friendly and was well aware of the Curry Club discount scheme ("no trouble at all sir if you have your membership card"). A refreshing change.

A good selection and apart from the starters (and the kebabs and burgers which are there for the philistines) all dishes are described as Balti and served in a large Karahi. We got off to a mixed beginning as, while my starter of Chicken Chat was very good with plentiful tasty chicken in a piquant sauce, my wife’s Onion Bhajias were poor - 5 small balls the size of a thumb nail or undersized gob stopper, and quite stodgy and lacking in onion. However, the meal was redeemed by the main course of Chicken Tikka Balti Kobi, which was a delicious mix of chicken and cauliflower in a medium hot but very tasty sauce, and Balti Chicken Pathia which was nicely hot and well flavoured. The accompanying Sag Alou (sic) was very good and the Vegetable Biryani was excellent. Peshwari Nan also excellent with good almond and sultana filling.

Service very good and friendly. Portions quite sufficient and prices very reasonable. A good, busy atmosphere all evening with a regular turnover leaving only one or two tables free at any one time.

A very pleasant meal in a very pleasant atmosphere and it is worth noting that I heard a local man in a group of four (he was clearly entertaining a couple of visiting friends) say that this restaurant was, in his opinion, mush better than it’s counterpart Shapla Tandoori. I was happy we had made the choice we had.

Malcolm Wilkins - February 2001