TUFAIL, 139 PARROCK STREET

Opening in 2005, it is owned by the same person who owns the Rickshaw take-away (and same family as those running the Gandhi and others in the town.)

A pleasant restaurant in the modern contemporary style with wooden flooring, it seats 110 people in all, in two separate dining areas, both rooms being airy and roomy.  A good menu covering all the usuals. 

Starters of Onion Bhajis was the best we have had for some time. Five smallish bhajias of indeterminate shape (neither round not flat burger shape - more as if fashioned between two spoons) were crisp, plenty of onion and tastily spiced. The Chicken Tikka Chat starter was also very good, having a spicy, tangy sauce and served rolled in a puri (personally I prefer it without the puri as the bread makes it too filling for a starter, but it was difficult not to scoff the lot). Both were served with an excellent salad - fresh crisp lettuce and rocket, tomato etc., and with a segment of lime rather than lemon, which makes a difference.

Main dishes also very good. On my first visit I had a Jalfrezi, which was excellent, and this time I chose a Chicken Tikka Pathia. It was cooked in a sharpish, piquant sauce with a hot tang and plenty of fresh coriander was very good. The Dopiaza was a mild dish, but tasty, while the Tandoori Chicken was excellent. It was very well marinated - the taste and colour permeated well into the meat - and served with plenty of onion. Excellent. The accompanying Mixed Vegetable Bhuna was nicely spiced in a thick sauce, and the Cauliflower Bhaji was just right - cooked al dente so that the cauliflower was crisp and the taste of the cauliflower was not lost. Much better than the overcooked mushy version served in many restaurants. Accompanying rice, Chapati etc. all of traditional standard.

The service has been a mixed bag on the occasions I have visited. They are friendly enough, and the main dishes are each served in an individual heated pot, the plates were warm, and we were able to take away what we had not eaten. On the first couple of visits the request for water was met promptly with a jug of iced water and two large glasses of the same, and on the earlier reports I said couldn't fault the service. However, on this most recent occasion the service was distinctly iffy. Despite being prompt to ask whether members of our party wanted more drinks (i.e the type that are chargeable), my wife asked for water, and the waiter had to be asked four! times before he brought it. Also, he served the starters to the wrong table, and when he was told of his error, promptly dropped one of the onion bhajis on the floor. He said to the recipient that he would replace it, but he never did. Maybe he was a new waiter, but it was a distinctly poorer service than the first two visits.

 Prices about average and good portions.

A very good addition to the fairly extensive local restaurant scene, and one which I will certainly go back to. The only pity is that they don't deliver a take-away.

Malcolm Wilkins - July 2007