A pattern has evolved of Marg’s Birthday Week extending to a Sunday visit to Mother India’s Café (1355 Argyle Street, Glasgow, G3 8AD). In The Land of the Half Kilo, Tapas is not necessarily what The Hector thinks about when Curry-Heute is conceived. Hector is also used to dining in near empty Curry Cafes where fellow diners may wear Asian Dress, a sight never seen in the West End. There are two fundamental attractions for this venue: the Butter Chicken is Marg’s Favourite Curry – served anywhere, and the Machi Massala has been the Benchmark Glasgow Fish Curry since the inception of this Blog.
Arriving around 16.00 the tables at the doorway were empty, thankfully we were asked to wait a minute whilst our Waitress checked the much warmer interior. One table for two was available, though proximity to the adjacent young Ladies is worth commenting on.
The Menu has changed in the last year, fixed Daily Specials are handwritten on the Menu rather than the lottery that one has experienced in the past. No Lamb Massala with Okra for Hector today, Mondays, if memory serves correct.
Four items in our order are fixed: Butter Chicken (£5.45), Machi Massala (£5.25), Lemon and Cashew Nut Rice (£2.25) and a Plain Paratha (£2.15). Marg was quick to spot the Methi Keema Mutter (£5.25), she has been ordering Keema with increasing regularity. 
This left The Hector to bring up the rear. The Lamb Karahi (£5.85) was described as – Lamb cooked in a rich pepper sauce. Did this mean a Masala made from Capsicum, or a Dish with Capsicum Ballast? As the tedium of this battle continues, I had to ask the Waitress. She went off to check and returned, I was assured that the Sauce contained the Peppers, and that I would not be served the lumps of Capsicum that are so abhorred. On that understanding…
A Large Bottle of Sparkling Water (£3.95) was the Liquid Refreshment.
Six Items, they can never arrive simultaneously, it was a different person who presented the Dishes. The small table ran out of space quickly, care had to be taken else the floor beckoned.
The Rice was placed near Marg and the Paratha precariously on the left corner. Having expressed much criticism about the venues which serve more Rice then a Man could consume, it was a positive that the modest amount served in the ration-tin was sufficient for the three Wet Curry Dishes. The Paratha was as Fresh and Flaky as one would hope for.
Wet Curry-Heute
Marg loved her Mother India’s Cafe – Butter Chicken, she found it to be as satisfying as ever.
It did not disappoint at all, creamy with a kick. By the time she had finished this Rich Dish the prospect of the Methi Keema Mutter became daunting, even though the pot was not filled to the top as it has been previously. The photographic proof is on a well known and reliable Curry Website. As the Paratha was required for this, strips were sent across the table. All was well. The remainder of the Rice came my way.
What is this that stands before me?
I had asked. A large piece of Red Ballast protruded from the decidedly thin Masala.
In all five pieces of Capsicum were removed and set aside. This is distinctly what I had not asked for. Calm. Five decent sized pieces of Tender Lamb were the business end of the Lamb Karahi. There was little sense of Spice, the Dish was woefully Under-seasoned. From where was the Flavour meant to originate? The Rich Pepper Sauce? This was Soupy, just how much Tomato and Onion had been used to create this Masala is unknown, the was poor. I’m not finished. Some of the excess Masala was left in the bottom of the pot. As I turned my attention to the Machi Massala the eagle eye of The Hector returned once more to the Rich Pepper Sauce... a watery residue was collecting… – Terrible – was the remark to Marg.
If it was oil you would not be complaining.
If it was Oil there would be Flavour!
The Machi Massala is a Benchmark
The Masala looked similar to that just consumed in the Lamb Karahi, maybe not as Red.
This was nothing like the superb Dish that has been served on these premises in the decade or more of visits. A Watery Soup with Fish. I could not bring The Man from Bradford here. This was Spicier than the Karahi but still Und
er-seasoned, in a Fish Curry, how? Where was the Citrus, the Herbs, that I have been hit with on every visit, the Blast of Flavours, the joy of the Machi Massala? Gone. No more?
This is what the Machi Massala has looked like on previous visits. I was not a Happy Hector. Calm.
Half of the Methi Keema Mutter was passed in my direction – Flavour at last! There was still sufficient Paratha to complement this Superb Dish.
As Dry as a Keema should be, this had the Methi Blast, the Flavour, the Seasoning, the Kick. Success.
However, I am not one who forgives and forgets. Having dined at the Mother India Restaurant for years I stopped, same story.
This is not what The Hector desires…
There are many Curry Cafes in Glasgow offering much more Flavoursome Curry, they just happen to be across the River Clyde. Try them!
The Bill
£30.15. The initial reaction to Tapas portions is that they appear to be expensive. We could eat no more today for the standard price one would pay in similar venues.
The Aftermath
Hector is not one to make a scene. The Calling Card was left with the Cash.
The Proprietor of the Mother India Chain and I communicated years ago after my last negative revue (…of the Restaurant). He admitted the Curry for all outlets is cooked at a central location then tweaked in the various outlets.
I have always felt that this Cafe was a cut above, not based on this visit.