I have been here before, well next door. The Café was stowed, we left. Only then did Our Man in Bradford reveal the presence of a larger restaurant a few doors down. The Bradford Sweet Centre (110-114 Lumb Lane, Bradford, BD8 7RS) dates back to 1964, around the time when Hector’s Curry Plate was being developed.
The walk up from the Travelodge did not appeal, a Taxi took Steve and Hector to Lumb Lane. Another Curry for Steve? He admits to eating almost nothing but last week in Spain. Steve, as we know is also the man who discovered the Indian Mango in München. Three more weeks…
The Restaurant is much more spacious than the Café, so I fail to know why everyone piles in there. Entering at Noon, there were already a few tables occupied. The
room is Bright, and has a – Colonial Feel – to the décor which grew on me the longer I was there. The tables were well spaced, I chose one in the middle of the room at a pillar.
Mein Host for the day was over immediately with Menus. I had already peaked online, Balti Gosht was the most Hector-like Curry on offer. Steve ordered the Mixed Balti, Lamb and Chicken. Who eats Chicken Curry? Steve apparently. Chapattis were 50p, – four please.
The Baltis arrived. The Meat was cut Small in the Bradford style. The Minimal Masala looked Thinner than I have come to know in my preferred Bradford Venues. There was Glow from the Oil/Ghee collecting at the base. No artificial colours had been used in the preparation of this Curry, it was almost as Pale as the White Karahi served in Glasgow’s Lasani Grill. The Hector Palate needed a Blast of the Bradford Curry Taste, this had it, sort of. Cloves dominated the Flavour initially. There was a Serious Kick, this was a Spicy Curry and this was how it came, no special mention o
f Spice level had been made. I would probably have enjoyed this Curry more if I had had it later in the day. This was Breakfast, and Lamb this early was Heavy. The Chapattis were Freshly made and quite substantial. One proved to be enough for Hector. As I ate on, the Cloves were assimilated, there was a sense of Meatiness, this Curry was full of Flavour. I have described Curry as having a Bisto Flavour in the past and used this as a negative. However, today I use this as a positive, the Meat did impress and it felt as if it would last forever. Was Hector finally Curried-out?
Steve’s verdict – Mixed Balti, Good, but not Great. It was Tasty.
The Bill
£17.80. We had to go up to the till to pay, different.
The Aftermath
Our Waiter manned the till, he spotted Steve’s Breaking Bad t-shirt and translated the Chemical Symbols. He asked why Steve was advertising these two elements, he is a Chemist but had never heard of Breaking Bad. There are still some who have not.
The Calling Card was received graciously and with enthusiasm. Nice Chap.