One of two Indian restaurants in town, this one seats 50 in fairly standard but comfortable surroundings. However, the food was slightly disappointing. Onion Bhajias had a high onion content but were ill formed, being flattish with irregular edges. While these edges were nicely crisp and tasty, the inside was undercooked and very greasy (a bit like my efforts really!). Chicken Tikka Masala and Chicken Dhansak sauces of reasonable flavour and appearance but the chicken pieces had not been cooked in any spices or sauce and seemed to have just been put in the sauce immediately before serving (if removed from the sauce, the chicken pieces had no underlying flavour whatsoever - even the so-called chicken ‘tikka’). Balti Vegetable a fairly average vegetable curry but a little bland and nothing to show it was ‘Balti’ rather than ordinary vegetable curry (other than costing £1 more!) Peshwari Nan was slightly doughy and would have benefited from a bit longer in the tandoor, or whatever oven they use. All dishes were very oily.

Service was like greased lightening (giving a bit of credence to my view that the meat was pre-cooked and merely placed in the appropriate heated up sauce), except for producing a jug of water for which they needed constant reminders. I was also overcharged on the final bill where an extra item had been added, although they deleted it without fuss when I pointed it out. (I’m always a bit suspicious when this happens. Even more so when it’s a holiday town and customers are here today and gone tomorrow, but perhaps I’m over cynical).

Although acceptable, it was a disappointing meal and I was left wondering whether we might have fared better at the other establishment.

Malcolm Wilkins - April 1998