Given what awaits in the coming days, there was a moment when no Curry-Heute was considered. The stomach overruled the brain, Hector found himself outside Yadgar Kebab House (148 Calder St, Govanhill, Glasgow, G42 7QP) at 13.55, five minutes before opening time. The young member of staff, resplendent in a Yadgar polo-shirt, invited me in as he arrived for his shift.
There would be no heavy duty Curry, Chapli Kebab and something with Vegetables was the plan. The Aloo Gajar Matar fitted the bill. I asked if Fish Pakora was also an option, this was confirmed. No Bread, none was necessary.
The Mango Rubicon was brought as a matter of course. The wait was short. A steady stream of Takeaway customers would enter Yadgar during my forty five minute stay. Two superbly large Orders were assembled by Naveed. People know what they want. The TV screen had a caption showing that we were about to be treated to the greatest hits of Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan. The volume was kept low. This was something new at Yadgar.
The young chap, whose name I should have established by now, assembled the Fayre. A Salad with Pickled Chillies and sliced Green Olives, was accompanied by two Dips. A feast, but where to start?
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Chapli Kebab
Salad, the Chilli Dip and the Chaplis kicked things off. These Chicken-based patties are all about the Spice and Seasoning, hence they punch above their weight in terms of Flavour. I cannot see me visiting Yadgar and not having at least one Chapli.
One would have been enough, or would it?
Fish Pakora
Seven large pieces, more than a Fish. The fresh Spicy Batter shrouding the Haddock, always tasty, is there better served anywhere?
By this time I had still not finished the Chapli, but having them cool is better than letting the Fish cool further. Fish and Chicken and Salad, there’s more.
Shafiq appeared in front of me bearing a plateful of steaming hot Biryani. He told me that this is their Saturday Special. Hector is always well looked after at Yadgar, this time I had to decline. I had worked out that I should manage all that already lay before me, no more.
I cannot accept this, I’ll explode if I have any more!
Pre- Lockdown, I probably would have managed the Biryani, now the Hector eats less. Truly.
I did have the Chicken Biryani on my last visit.
Aloo Gajar Matar
Potatoes, Carrots and Peas, a Vegetable Curry, but not the classic which also contains Green Beans and Cauliflower. I started with the Carrots, and as expected, there it was – The Yadgar Taste. They have denied that Carrots are the key ingredient to create this, yet I keep returning to this theory.
The Coriander Topping and cooked in sliced Green Chillies added Flavour and a kick. The Masala appeared to be mostly pulped Carrot. The Yadgar Taste and a Big Kick, this was a fine conclusion to my day of – not – going out for Curry.
The Bill
There was one.
Naveed insisted that I had only had Vegetables.
The Aftermath
I did raise the point that prices will have to increase. Naveed told me that at present, they sell all that is prepared each day. As long as that maintains, then prices can be held. Good to know.