Glasgow – Chaakoo Bombay Cafe – The Return

Since my first visit to Chaakoo Bombay Cafe (79 St Vincent St, Glasgow G2 5TF) with – The Chaps – back in May, I was keen to get Marg along to this venue. For Marg the ambience is as important as the Curry, Hector has other ideas. Chaakoo also serve  Butter Chicken which only Marg can judge, this is her area of expertise, Hector eats different Curry.

We arrived sometime after 14.00 and were shown to a small table near the entrance. Why were we allocated such a table? I could see couples occupying much more comfortable tables in the interior. That Marg managed to knock the top heavy cutlery container to the floor within minutes says it all. We were sat beside a group of six Ladies having cocktails. For them everything was funnier than everything else, a chance to point out that Chaakoo attracts custom as a Bar which the premises were previously.

There was no sign of the Waiters/Managers who looked after us so well on Visit #1. A Waitress brought the Menu, this was not what I expected. So, the – Lunch Menu – is not available on a Saturday or a Sunday. I suppose Chaakoo have to make their money at some time. A family of four were placed on our other side, they too asked for the Lunch Menu. Now we know.

With the £9.95 – Grill & Curry – option not available, I would not be ordering an extra Main-Tapas Portion, so no Daal Makhani for Hector-Heute. I was keen to try the Tandoori Spiced Wings (£5.95) which claimed to be served – with ice – on the Lunch Menu, not so on the Main. Having been challenged in the USA back in June by my new friend – Habanjero – I was keen to discover how Spicy – Spiced – was. Lamb Saagwalla (£6.95) would be my choice of Main.

Marg announced that she was having Fish, not Butter Chicken. This quickly changed to Lamb Madras (£6.95). So much for Hector’s plan.

To accompany we would share Lemon Rice (£2.25) and a Naan (£1.95). The choice of Naan was quite restricted, I definitely did not desire Garlic (£2.25) or Peshwiri (£2.50). No Coriander/Chilli Naan, should I have asked?

On being told that only small Bottles of Sparkling Water were available, we decided to stick to the Tap Water provided.

Having consulted a well known and reliable Curry Blog, I was able to advise Marg that everything would arrive together. Why they do this I know not, however, the long established Mother India’s Cafe  practise the same system, another Tapas Cafe.  It is the latter’s Butter Chicken that all is compared to.

Tandoori Spiced Wings

No Buffalo was harmed in the preparation of the four Chicken Wings. Even with the Onion Salad which featured slivers of Capsicum, I was again appreciating the good value that is the – Lunch Menu. The first taste was – Nando’s – such was the way that parts of the skin had been burnt, tasty. The Spicy Sauce had a slight Sweetness which was within acceptable parameters. Yes, these were – Spicy – but not demanding. Double the Quantity would have more interesting, but hey, this is a Tapas Cafe.

Marg was ahead in helping herself to Bread and Rice. There was enough Rice to share given our propensity to eschew excess. The Naan was a decent size, a bit – Thin – perhaps, but Marg was correct to point out how – Cool – it had become. Had it been served that way, or was this due to the time taken to deal with the – Starter?

Lamb Saagwalla

Dr. Stan had this on Visit #1 so I knew what to expect, or so I thought. The over-exposed photo does it no favours, the one below on the Rice is more accurate. I was happy to see once more the Thick Herb-rich Masala topped with Caramelised (?) Onions. The first dip of Naan into the Masala revealed how woefully Under-seasoned this Dish was. This was a major disappointment. On Visit #1, I met Chef Manou and congratulated him on his – bravery – for serving up such an array of Well-seasoned Dishes. What has happened in the interim?

This Tapas Portion featured five pieces of meat, three of which were a good size and so were halved to eke out the portion. The Lamb was very soft and in the end went further than I first thought it would.

Such was the power of the Sauce in the Tandoori Wings, it took some time for the Flavour of the Saagwalla to emerge, it was only after I had sample of the Lamb Madras that I managed to actually taste the Saagwalla.

Seasoning is all.

Lamb Madras

As Mainstream as Curry can be, here was Meat in a Red Masala featuring Onion/Nigella Seeds.

Tomatoey and spicy – was Marg’s first remark.

The meat is very tender, maybe a bit too spicy for me-me. (Who is – Me-me?)

When Hector’s Soupçon crossed the table, only then was there a realisation of how – Thin – almost – Watery – this Masala was. For the reason given above, I couldn’t taste much. The Kick did hit the palate, – Chilli Powder – I thought. Having practised cooking with only Green Chillies of late, I could sense how different this was. I was glad I had ordered something else, it was nowhere near as good as the Garlic Lamb which I thoroughly enjoyed on Visit #1.

I should have had the Butter Chicken – was Marg’s concluding remark.

At no time were we approached by a member of Staff whilst we ate. Chaakoo may have ambience, it had little else going for it today. Butter Chicken at Mother India’s Cafe may well be our next Sunday Curry together, then Hector can have Machi Masala, for a change.

The Bill

£24.05.  At – Hector’s Recommended Curry Houses – one can get full-sized portions for the same amount.

The Aftermath

With no staff interaction, there is no further comment, other than, I doubt I’ll be rushing back.