TANJORE, 82 HIGH STREET

(Note: When I drove past in August 2007 it looked distinctly closed!)

Has been established 'between one to two years' according to the waiter, which puts it about 2004/05. Previously there was an Indian restaurant called Poona on the site, but they assure me that this restaurant is different ownership and chef to the Poona. 

Pleasantly decorated in modern fashion, with plain salmon/orange walls, inset lights and modern wall lights but without going as far as having the now-ubiquitous contemporary style wooden flooring. Fairly standard menu.

Onion Bhaji starters were four small round bhajias, which were crisp on the outside but rather stodgy and lacking onion inside. Served with a small, basic salad accompaniment, but no riata, and didn't have much spiciness of flavour. Starter of Mixed Kebab comprised some chicken tikka, lamb tikka and a small kebab, again with a small basic salad accompaniment (and no riata). It was OK, but nothing above the average.

Main course of Chicken Tikka Jalfrezi was another that was pretty average. On the plus side, the chillis had been cooked in it rather than sprinkled on, but there was no depth in taste apart from the hotness of the chilli. The best of the two mains was Chicken Tikka Pathia, which had a better flavour, with a nice sweetness, although it was not particularly hot or spicy.

Vegetable dishes of Mixed Vegetable Bhajee and Dall Samba were too similar - the Dall Samba being virtually a Vegetable Bhajee with lentils. Both were made with finely diced vegetables, which made then rather mushy and wishy-washy. Neither had any strong spicy flavour.

The accompanying rice and egg paratha were good, standard stuff.

Service was good and helpful (we had a limited time before catching a train, and they ensured we were served in good time to catch it, although this was probably helped by a lack of customers). Portions good, and the prices extremely reasonable. For example, you don't get Onion Bhaji in many places for under two quid ( £1.95 here), so it was good value for money, provided a flavoursome above average meal is not one of your requirements. All in all a very average high street Indian restaurant - nothing to complain about, but nothing (other than the prices) to get excited about.

Whether it will last only time will tell as there is lots of competition with three other Indian restaurants (plus various others) within a short stretch of Chatham High Street, and a former restaurant nearby called Lady Chutney (which was a much better restaurant for food) didn't last long. Perhaps Lady Chutneys was too upmarket for Chatham High Street as my report on it at the time noted that they offered a bottle of £110 champagne on an extensive wine list. Maybe the reasonable prices might keep this one going, as the clientele in Chatham High Street are not the champagne type, but as the conversation from two of the tables was liberally sprinkled with "f.....ing this' and 'f....ing that', it was not an encouragement to return with the wife or for a family meal. And that was with only three other table taken during the time we were there! (which on a Saturday night is not a good sign). But as I have said, time will tell, but I for one will probably use another restaurant next time I'm in the area.

Malcolm Wilkins - July 2006