SHIPA TANDOORI, 113 CANTERBURY STREET

One of Gillingham’s first Indian restaurants (if not the first), being established in 1982.  A pleasant, homely and fairly typical high street Indian restaurant in two rooms, including a comfortable seating area by the bar to await take-aways. It seats a surprising 72 according to the waiter, although it didn’t look it but perhaps they have extra seating upstairs.

A comprehensive menu listing all the usuals plus a few extras, and includes a good selection of vegetarian main dishes. The usual Onion Bhaji starter was very ordinary. Two flat style bhajias were a bit stodgy and lifeless, but (unfortunately) they were probably no worse than many I find nowadays. Very average, although accompanied by a decent, crisp salad garnish. The Chicken Chat was a curious example, being chicken chunks in a creamy light orangey-coloured sauce. It looked just like a dish of CTM, and was similarly bland and lacked the tanginess of chat. Perhaps it was CTM? Nevertheless, it was OK even if not chicken chat as I know it!

The main dishes were better than the starters. My main dish of Chicken Dansack (sic) did have exactly the same appearance as the chicken chat, but fortunately it didn’t taste the same and did have the required spiciness and hotness, while the Lamb Methi was very small pieces of lamb – much of it almost mince – but had a pleasant flavour imbued by the fenugreek and was of mild to medium hotness. Mixed Vegetable Bhaji fairly average, while the Tarka Dall was very flavoursome and ‘garlicky’ with a good consistency.

Prices and portions fairly standard while the service was pleasant and efficient. All in all a pleasant if unremarkable curry house serving pleasant if unremarkable formula curries.

 Malcolm Wilkins - July 2004