With Marg back from her curtailed and over-complicated trip, there was the first opperchancity to drive across the recently opened crossing of the River Clyde from Clydebank to Renfrew. How many years since conception?
Objective #1 today was to prove Google Maps wrong. The hypothesis was: it must be faster to use the new bridge to get to Glasgow Airport than by driving twice the distance via Erskine and the M8. With only three sets of traffic lights on the latter route, it soon became apparent that the ten on our our side of the river were slowing us down considerably. Then there was the unexpected. The bridge was closed for one and three quarter hours to let a ship past. Really? Research discovered this was one of five lengthy closures during daylight hours this very day. Another white elephant?
Renfrew has three Curry Houses, now virtually on our doorstep. Two venues have been reviewed previously. The Punjab Times (63 Hairst Street, Renfrew, PA4 8QU) remains rated albeit a re-imagination of Times of Punjab reviewed in these pages back in 2021. Kinder, Mein Host at Times of Punjab, and his daughter Priya departed, establishing Glassy Central on Sauchiehall Street towards the end of 2022, before moving the business to Cambuslang in 2024. Green Gates duly took over Glassy central. Green Gates, who originated in Stirling,established themselves in the West of Scotland in Renfrew before their expansion to The Merchant City and then the former Glassy Central premises on Sauchiehall Street. For further clarification, Kinder once had Diva (Clydebank). (eh?)
Green Gates, our new nearest Curry House, does not open until 16.00. Sundays excepted (15.00), The Times of Punjab opens at noon and remain so all day. Perfect for our purposes. Arriving at 14.05, thirty minutes later than planned, there were a dozen diners, some no doubt taking advantage of the Express Thali Lunch (£7.95) or Lunch Deal (£9.50). Marg was having the latter with the £1.00 supplement for Lamb.
Veg Pakora would be followed by Lamb Rogan Josh with a Naan. Dessert/Tea/Coffee later.
Marg spotted that a pint of Mango Lassi was a mere £3.95. Not to be missed. Tap water accompanied. The Hector, unable to order a large bottle of Sparkling Water on this fine day, settled for 330ml at £2.95.
Having studied the out of date online menu en route, I was still unsure as to what to have. The Fish did impress last time, only one Fish Curry was on offer today: Salmon Meen Moiley (£14.95).
Moiley/Moilee equals Soup, no thanks.
Lal Maas (£15.95), once a favourite at The Village, a Dish long gone, and here it was in Venison. Tick. Mushroom Pilau (£3.50) would accompany.
The turbaned chap who served, I took to be Mein Host, but established otherwise later. A pity he was not around as we departed. Most helpful, and an eyebrow was raised when I ordered the Lal Maas and asked if it was on-the-bone. It wasn’t.
He explained the change of name after the change of ownership. They lost all access to the media, social or otherwise, for Times of Punjab, and so had to tweak the name and start again. A second branch of The Punjab Times is due to open in Paisley.
Seat coverings aside, there is little difference in layout at The Times of Punjab. The Punjab Times poster remain in situ as one climbs the stairs at the entrance. The same historic graphics adorn the wall, and Bier kegs remain suspended from the ceiling. We, the fourteen diners, were well spread out, though at one point Marg did ask if there was a crowd of women sitting behind her.
Only two – and a chap saying little and doing a lot of nodding.
My issue was the music, fortunately not played loud, but still irrelevant. The TV screen was stuck on a chap playing Indian Techno. Mid afternoon on a Thursday, who was here to dance? There were posters too for – Curry-Oke. Hold me back.
Tureens for Buffet were also along one wall. For this, I have no more information.
Vegetable Pakora
Marg’s Vegetable Pakora duly arrived. Three, well-fired pieces, I was offered one, but seriously, how could I accept? If the Hector is going to eat Pakora, it’s by the dozens, plural. Marg:
3 small pieces of Vegetable Pakora. I liked the crunchiness of them, and tasted the veg before dipping them into the sauce.
As the mains were assembled on the table, so the highlight of our meal would soon become apparent. In the – Breads – section of the menu, Chapati (£1.95) and Tandoori Roti (£2.25) appear to be over-priced. A Plain Naan (£3.25) looks better value. When we saw what was served, the Lunch Deal took on a new perspective. Behold the heavenly Naan!
Large, served whole, teardrop-shaped, risen, blisters, the buttery sheen, no Garlic: meeting all the criteria for a proper Tandoori Naan. Why is this so difficult to source?
The Mushroom Rice was a sensibly sized portion. Fresh Mushrooms, important, and the Rice had been suitably spiced. A suitable accompaniment.
I include a second photo of the Naan, this time with the Rice for scale. Marg had already tore off the pointed tip, her Naan, and she knows this is the best bit. I would eat way more Bread than I had envisaged when ordering the Rice, which now felt slightly surplus to requirements.
Lamb Rogan Josh
The small karahi, but these can still be deceptive. A decent portion in a lunchtime menu. The Thick Masala was topped with a sprinkling of Coriander. Visible strips turned out to be Onion, not the Dreaded Capsicum. There was no visible Tomato and thankfully no inundation by Cream, so which version of Rogan Josh was this? For once no Soupçon for Hector.
The dish had a rich tomato flavour and was fairly sweet with a slight kick to it. There were pieces of tender lamb in this onion based sauce. I left some strips of onion as I had eaten enough. The Naan was very large and freshly made. I enjoyed using the bread to pick up up my meat and sauce. A great combination.
Lal Maas
Ginger Strips and a trace of Coriander topped the Dry, Thick Masala. Tin foil?
Edible Silver – I was assured by our chap.
Do I have to eat it? – was the Hector response. Maybe the body was lacking in Silver, as a consequence of today, maybe not. It soon became part of the melange. However, it did show a bit of class. After Lamb Shank (£16.95), the Hector had just ordered the most expensive Curry on the menu, and, for once, it wasn’t the Fish!
Nine pieces of – The King of Curry Meat – were duly arranged on the Masala and Rice. Dipping the wonderful Naan into the retained Masala, the mental cache of Curry Flavours was quickly accessed.
I’ve had this a hundred times – I remarked. Marg needed to know.
The top end of menu, but still, Mainstream Masala Flavour, served across the land, There was a greater intensity of Flavour here than a standard restaurant Masala. Well Seasoned, and with a Spice level that continued to build, there was something happening. Tomato-rich in Flavour, I regret not having sampled the Rogan Josh for comparison purposes.
Venison, as has been written each time it is encountered, is – half Curried – before one begins cooking, such is the Herb-rich Flavour of Bambi’s diet. Beautifully Tender Meat, as I remarked to our chap when he came over to ask the customary question of the a la carte diner, but not the lady on the Lunch Deal. I wrote something similar recently at The Village.
Alas, despite some sense of being gamey on the palate, the Meat was dry, and not giving the full Flavour one hoped for. As though the Meat and Masala were strangers. The final pieces were difficult to masticate.
I had retained some Masala for a last hurrah with the still plentiful Naan but had to smother the remaining Rice with it. To no avail, as it happened, the end point had been reached.
But not for Marg, who had ice cream yet to order as part of her ever continuing Lunch Deal.
I enjoyed vanilla ice cream to round off the meal. Very satisfying. The pint of Mango Lassi was a great addition to the whole lunch. Very reasonably priced.
Does this mean that in effect, Marg had Dessert, twice?
The Bill
£35.85
The Aftermath
By this time I had identified Mein actual Host. The Calling Card was duly issued, conversation was limited. As I took photos of the now almost empty restaurant, he made sure he got in on the act.
Does the Karahi have Capsicum despite its honourable description? Is the Lamb Shank actually a traditional Nihari? To be continued…
And yes, the Renfrew Bridge was open, until 18.00, on our return. For years I have envisaged nipping across to Renfrew for a Curry, if only there was a bus.
2025 Menu
