It was a long day. Alighting at Clydebank Station, the customary late night Donner Kebab from Hot & Spicy (18 Alexander St., Clydebank, G81 1RZ) is usually more than sufficient. A standard Donner is enough for two, going – large – is beyond extravagant. With – everything on – the Donner Kebab at Hot & Spicy lives up to the name of the Takeaway.
However, as I entered Hot & Spicy at 23.10, the mind drifted towards Curry. Cafe Punjab, the restaurant, has long gone, the name lives on at Hot & Spicy, the turbaned Chef maintains also. Ordering Curry here is therefore a rarity, last time I was given a Chicken Curry to accompany my Donner thus a review was commanded. It wasn’t bad at all. Tonight I ordered off menu: Lamb, Dry not Soup, Spicy plus, and no Peppers. Bhuna – was suggested, message therefore received. I asked for a Special Rice (£2.60) with the same caveat. I couldn’t make out what the Rice compromise would be, I had to trust the serving chap who certainly knows me. Had I ordered a Vegetable Curry?
The Bill
£10.50 More than double the price of a kebap.
Whilst I waited I was able to track the buses which would take me up Kilbowie Road, things were looking good, no taxi required. My Order was presented in no time at all, well what else can one expect? Yadgar, this is not.
Still hot on reaching Hector’s House, no further heating was required. On decanting the Rice, I finally understood what the chap had said to me. Potato and Cauliflower featured in the Rice, a bigger plateful than a Hector could ever eat, leftovers inevitable.
Bhuna Lamb
Half cooked Tomato stood out in the Thick Masala Mass which appeared to have Herbs in the mix. I counted ten large pieces of Meat, each would be halved, in theory, two could easily have had a decent meal from what lay before me.
There was a suitable – kick – but the Seasoning was way below that which one seeks. The Lamb and Masala were strangers, apart from – meatiness – the Lamb had little to offer this Curry. Having ordered the Vegetable Rice, there was certainly – Diversity – on the plate.
The Cauliflower retained some firmness, well presented, the Potato was suitably soft. Sadly, the Potato had not been exposed to any Spice until the point of serving and so was giving little in the way of Flavour. Worse, the Rice was decidedly stodgy, there were relatively few individual grains of the Basmati one expects, broken Rice? Disappointing.
The anticipated – Clydebank Curry Taste – was not prominent, success! Here was a bog standard Curry, it wasn’t – Soup – there was some Flavour, not a lot, it did the job. Tonight it was very much a case of – needs must.
