TANDOORI PALACE, 10 BRADBOURNE LANE, DITTON, Nr AYLESFORD

A new restaurant to the area, opening in mid-2008 in a former pub. It is not linked to any other local restaurant, but it is under the same ownership as one in Brick Lane (I couldn't quite catch the name, except that it began with S - possibly the Shalimar).

Being in a former pub it has a capacious car park and is roomy inside, and can seat up to 100 if necessary (they hold a live musical event each month)  although it is normally set out for 75 diners. The decor is smartly contemporary with a bar and plenty of space between tables.

The menu lists all the usual suspects but with a Brick Lane pedigree I was looking forward to some Brick Lane style authenticity. However, perhaps my expectations were too high as the food was disappointingly average high street fare. In fact, rather than having the fresh, spicy heat of traditional Indian (or Bangladeshi in the case) areas, it was surprisingly bland. Firstly the Chicken Xucuti (sic) was lacking in the attributes of Xacauti - no discernible coconut flavour, or any chillies associated with this dish. Also, it was served in (or or rather surrounded by) a large red capsicum, and unfortunately there was more red capsicum than chicken! It was a quite pleasant but unmemorably ordinary curry, and certainly nothing like a Xacuti that I've had before or expected. The Shahi Chicken Jeera Mossalla (sic) was described as 'fairly hot', but again I would have put it no higher than medium heat, if that. It was also described as being cooked with black pepper, mustard seeds, cumin seeds, coriander and paprika (no mention of chillies I note). Well, it certainly was cooked with black pepper as the peppercorns were whole and hard - as though thrown in at the last minute - so could easily break a cracked tooth filling of the unwary. You have been warned! The Tandoori Chicken also failed to excite, being pleasant but fairly ordinary and not so deeply marinated as many we have enjoyed recently. (It is also worth commenting that while the chicken in the Tandoori Chicken was fine, the chicken pieces in the other main dishes were curiously soft and tender to the extent that my wife complained they were too tender and speculated whether it was chicken that is pumped with very high levels of water (and sometimes other additives) added to enhance size.) The Dall Samber had a good flavour and fitted the menu description of 'slightly hot and sour', while the Niramish (a dry mixed vegetable curry) was again a pleasant enough accompaniment, if slightly oily.

The service was friendly and very efficient; the portions and the prices about average.

All in all I suppose I was slightly disappointed, although this may be because my expectations were unreasonably high given the mention of a Brick Lane link and the smart surroundings. Nevertheless it was a reasonable, if unremarkable meal - rather like a standard, slightly bland high street curryhouse meal but in better surroundings.

Malcolm Wilkins - August 2009