TUFAIL, 139 PARROCK STREET

Opening in 2005, it is owned by the same person who runs 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. (I believe it also now has an upstairs room if required).  A good menu covers all the usuals, and we go fairly regularly for 'family curries'. 

Starters of Onion Bhajis are better then average. 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). Prawn Puree also good, and all starters are served with an excellent salad - fresh crisp lettuce and rocket, tomato etc., and with a segment of lime rather than lemon.

Main dishes are also always very good. On my various visits I had a Jalfrezi,  Dhansak, Chicken Tikka Pathia and Ginger Murgh. All have been excellent, but my preference is probably the Pathia which is cooked in a sharpish, piquant sauce with a hot tang and plenty of fresh coriander. Others in our party have had a variety of dishes - Dopiaza a mild dish, but tasty, Tandoori Chicken very well marinated - the taste and colour permeated well into the meat - and served with plenty of onion, while others have all been well up to scratch. The accompanying vegetable dishes have also sl been good - Mixed Vegetable Bhuna was nicely spiced in a thick sauce, Tarka Dall having that necessary garlic flavour 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 generally been good - friendly, the main dishes are each served in an individual heated pot, the plates were warm, and we have been able to take away what we had not eaten. (when I say 'generally' good, on one occasion 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 the waiter 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. I assume he was a new waiter - and hopefully didn't last long - as otherwise the service has always been good).

Prices reasonable for the style of restaurant, and portions generous.

A very good addition to the fairly extensive local restaurant scene, and one which I (and members of my family) visit fairly regularly and will certainly continue to do so. The only pity is that they don't deliver a take-away.

Malcolm Wilkins - March 2010