Jim has been keen to be taken to the Yadgar Kebab House (148 Calder St, Govanhill, Glasgow, G42 7QP) for some years. The Pedigree of this most Outstanding of Glasgow Curry Houses has been made well known to him. Jim entrusted Hector in organising the Fare, he was willing to face up to whatever challenges befell him.
Shkoor, Mein Host, was contacted earlier in the week – Please feed three. Dr. Stan would not miss out on this. Aileen was an eleventh hour addition, she appreciated that the World Famous Yadgar Goshat Karahi would probably be beyond her and would order on the day – today.
We assembled at 15.00, Naveed was back 
behind the counter after his lengthy vacation, Mr. Anwar Sr. was also there to greet us. Omar brought the extra place setting to the table, we would be the only sit-in customers for a while, though the debris on two tables suggested they had been busy.
At the counter, The Daily Specials were as low as I have seen them. Naveed said they had been particularly busy today and this is what was left.
The Vegetable Curry, which defies belief, and the Aloo Keema Mutter are the two Dishes I would have taken had I arrived unannounced. I talked Aileen through what was on offer, and left her to it, Naveed did the rest. Lamb Daal and Chana Curry were her choices. Two Dishes? I did not know for certain what else would arrive under – Starters, ordered, other than the Excellent Baked Scottish Haddock.
Omar began to cover the table – The Dips, Spiced Onion, a Pile of Poppadoms (7), Salad – now featuring Green and Black Olives, and later the Special Raita – filled with more Salad bits. Omar knows our drink preferences, offering me Rubicon Mango and Dr. Stan the Guava. Jim and Aileen also ordered Drinks, Jim threw in a Mango Lassi.
Two Fillets of Haddock were presented on a platter, Jim was impressed by the sight of this, once he started he knew he was in for a memorable day. Jim and Hector shared half of one Fish, the other went in Dr. Stan’s direction, the intention was that Aileen would have some too. Naveed headed us off at the pass and brought another platter – Chapli Kebab and Fish Pakora, for Aileen. Did I mention she had just ordered two Mains?
Jim was having some of that. We agreed that another photo would be taken afterwards to see how his waistline had expanded during the visit. Dr. Stan passed the remaining Haddock anti-clockwise, eventually it disappeared. Then it was the Fish Pakora that had to be finished. The Chapli Kebab had gone in a flash courtesy of Jim and Aileen. Hector took the last piece of Fish Pakora, for comparison purposes. Fine as it was, nothing competes with Yadgar’s Spiced Haddock, it looks so simple – a Spice Encrusted Fish, oven baked. Those of us who have had it – we know.
Three Chaps took a table having ordered Pizza. This always amuses. They left half of it, this did not amuse. Yadgar sell a lot of Pizza so one suspects the Chaps were not hungry after all. Naveed and Chef Arshad took a Snack Break. The intensity of eating at Yadgar was such that even Jim was reduced to Dr. Stan impersonations – Mmmmm. Jim ordered a second Mango Lassi, the first impressed.
There is a Rule/Realisation: When the Starters are this good, the Mains are….
Jim and Aileen were already discussing a return visit. You have not had your Curry yet. The levels of confidence were high, any Null Hypotheses were already being rejected. Naveed suggested a ten minute break, I insisted on twenty. Naveed at this point also informed me that some of the Vegetable Curry was also coming our way. There is a tacit order for this whenever I am present. Indeed, they should text me any time this Remarkable Creation is available. In the end, it was a much more sensible thirty minutes before Omar brought out Aileen’s Feast.
The Chana Curry looked very Red, not a Dish I would miss. The Chicken Daal looked a Sensible Portion, surprisingly – Shorva-like. Two Chapattis were placed between Aileen and Dr. Stan. Now for The Big Moment.
Omar brought two Large Karahi each containing one half of 1.5kg of Goshat Karahi. We can do this. Well, we have, on numerous occasions. Still, it looked daunting. Two more Chapattis arrived.
Dr Stan was given one Karahi – We’ll share this then help The Doctor. Jim had other plans, he knew his Dear Lady may struggle, so being the gentleman that he is, ensured that Aileen’s dishes were also addressed. Jim had already given a – Wow! – when the Fish was presented. Now he was speechless, the happy expressions say it all.
Yadgar’s Goshat Karahi is unique. Served in the manner which The Hector has dreams about, one has to go to the base of the Karahi to scrape up the Masala. Eating with the Fingers/Chapatti is the only way. The Man from Paisley was initially using a knife and fork. Dr. Stan was saying nothing, Mmmmm, understood.
The Portion of Vegetable Curry was shared, Ourageous! How do they do this?
Future visits were being discussed as we ate, Jim will no doubt bring a bus load – ouch! For the record, Yadgar seats thirty. The shared Karahi was finished, The Doctor’s hardly looked touched. It took two, Jim did his best before early retirement was called for. For once, early retirement was not the better option.
The Hector was encouraged to take the final piece of Lamb, no more Lamb for a month. Today we had a mixture of Tender Lamb Chops and other cuts including Sucky Bones. This was Quality Meat. The Good People at Fat Boy’s in Crawley would do well to study the quantities and prices here. No way were we being charged £40.00 a Kilo today. Oops, I mustn’t give people ideas.
Both Naveed and Omar asked if they could do more. A Pizza? At another venue nearby, this did actually happen, once.
Chef Arshad came out to take his customary bow and was introduced to the First-timers.
Mr. Anwar came to sit with us. As he did, so Naveed set down four Desserts. Shkoor has been trying to have me accept Dessert for years. Too late to say – No? This was Creamy Rice/Semolina, with a Cherry on top. Aileen asked how it was made.
I have been trying to get Yadgar recipes for years, do you think they’re going to tell you?
Mr. Anwar described in detail, how to prepare this Dessert. I should offer my services as Kitchen Porter for a week and see what I can pick up, though it would not be Desserts I would be studying.
No Paneer Here
Mr. Anwar related his dislike of Cheese when he first arrived in the UK, now he could not imagine going without.
Hector – I have never seen Paneer served in any Dish at Yadgar.
Mr. Anwar confirmed that they have never sold Paneer, so there’s one for the future, possibly.
Being a relatively warm day, Glasgow has a few, especially late May through June, Mr. Anwar announced that we needed a Cool Drink. He described various Lassi options. Salt – Namkeen – , Mango or Anchovy. I did hear him say – Anchovy?
Dr. Stan, can you imagine what an Anchovy Lassi would do to us right now? If this exists, then I must try it, earlier in the Feast.
Aileen opted for Salt Lassi, I have never sampled this, today I did – Natural Yoghurt – is my best description.
The Hector did the honours with the Jug of Mango Lassi, spreading the ice cubes for maximum cooling. Just how filling is Mango Lassi? By 17.30 The Doctor was having his afternoon snooze.
Shkoor texted to check we had been well served. You don’t get service like this anywhere else.
The Bill
£60.00. The standard 4 x £15.00. As ever, there is a suspicion that these may be Hector Prices. Become a Regular.
The Aftermath
Three hours since arrival, 18.00, the departure. Time to retreat indoors, to let the Feast digest. I shall not have to eat Curry for a month, aye right.