Glasgow – Ashoka West End – Hector’s Birthday Curry – It’s a Once a Year – Thing…

At the corner of Glasgow’s shortest road and Glasgow’s longest street…

Normally Hector gets to choose the venue for his Birthday Curry; Marg was not scheduled to be available this evening. She purchased an Amazon Voucher for two meals at the Ashoka West End (1284 Argyle Street, Glasgow G3 8AB) with a view to us dining here yesterday. That way Hector would be able to Birthday at one of his Recommended Venues. Somehow, Marg became free this evening and so here we are.
Five years of Curry-Heute and Hector has visited the Ashoka Bearsden, the Ashoka Shak in Paisley, Kama Sutra and Green Chilli Café across the street, all part of the Harlequin group. The question about Chains is always – where is the Curry actually cooked? Chefs may simply only have to tweak the Base Curry to match the required Dish. I have been told that in the Ashoka Restaurants, there are laminated sheets on display which guide the Chefs to ensure that everything is served on a consistent basis. How The Village could do with employing this tactic.
The Menu was studied online in advance. Two Dishes in the Connoisseurs Choice section looked nearest to a Hector Curry, but puzzled.

Sikandri Lamb (£12.25) – Lamb shanks marinated overnight with ginger, garlic, green chillies and Indian spices, served with garlic potatoes.

Nihari Lamb (£12.25) – A real taste of Indian style lamb cooked on the bone with onions, tomatoes, green chillies, ginger, garlic and fresh coriander.

The ingredients were right, the dreaded Green Mush was not listed, but Lamb Shanks? Hector has encountered Lamb Shanks sold as such but also under the Nihari banner. The worst Nihari I ever had was at the Curry Leaf which is no more. Lamb Stew served in Soup. I would take advice.
Entering just before the 18.00 booking the chap suggested we were due at 18.30. A few couples were already in situ, however we were marched downstairs to a cold, empty basement. Menus were provided and the Voucher dispatched. We were instructed that we were entitled to certain Starters and Mains to a stated value, Sundries and Dessert.
I asked about the difference between the Sikandri and the Nihari. Lamb Shank – was mentioned for the Sikandri.
Which as the Thickest and Driest Masala?

The use of the word Masala appeared to confuse. Sauce.
I was assured I could have as Thick a Sauce as I wished.
Nina, our Waitress for the evening came to take the order.
Haggis Pakora and Bengali Fish Curry for Marg. Tandoori Lamb Chops and Nihari Lamb for Hector.
Plain Rice and Naan (singular) were part of the Voucher Deal. This became Mixed Veg Pilau Rice and Meethi Paratha. We were advised that we would pay a supplement for our choices.
The non-appearance of Capsicum was guaranteed as was as Thick and Dry a Masala as Chef could manage. Poppadoms were declined. Why not just bring them?
The Chap returned. Nihari and Masala? He was offering me a different Curry? Something was being lost in our attempt at communication. In the end I asked for Nihari Lamb as it comes, but please no Capsicum.
Marg questioned – Meethi Paratha?    Meat?      No, Methi.        I hope.
A New Lady came downstairs and presented a complimentary Spiced Potato Soupcon. Two, tiny pieces of Potato. This kick-started the palate. Tasty. pleasant, a good start. A Pre-Starter (?) as I encountered in Bombay Blues last week.
The Chops and Pakora arrived with due efficiency. I had speculated as to how many Chops. Chops is plural, so at least two. Two Chops were presented with a mass of Green. Marg was given six modest-sized pieces of Haggis Pakora. We will not get fat on this.

A pleasant change, moist and spicy – was Marg’s verdict on the Haggis.
Spicy, Mush – was my noted comment. One piece came Hector’s way. Vegetable Pakora and especially Fish Pakora are better than this somewhat Gimmicky Starter?
The Tandoori Lamb Chops were excellent. Perfectly cooked, a decent size, but two? I was just getting into them when they were gone. At least four chops required, but that would be £9.00 here. Think again.
More couples were arriving. A chap sat right behind me had some offer he was cashing in too. As one couple left so they were replaced immediately beside others. Why sit us on top of each other. The tables for six looked cramped, and this was with nobody sitting at them. The potential to squeeze a lot of people in is there. This place could be uncomfortable on a Saturday night.  Were all the Voucher Customers being sent downstairs?  If so, what was the portion size upstairs?
With the classic white tablecloths, this is very much a place – to dine. The Ashoka West End is far removed from my favourite haunts.
Another person brought the Mains. By now we had seen around six members of staff, each presumably with their tasks clearly demarcated. The Nihari looked splendid.
Marg helped herself to a modest quantity of the Vegetable Rice. With Bread there was enough to share. Carrots, Green Beans and Peas were incorporated. Why do Restaurants not sell Aloo Gobi Rice?

A sufficient portion of fish when I’ve had a starter – said Marg. Without it (the Starter), it wouldn’t have been enough. Tasty, full of coriander, yum. One satisfied customer. I sampled the Masala, the Fish Flavour was prominent, maybe too Sweet for the Hector palate, and nowhere near enough.  The Masala was close to Soup.

Nihari Lamb

The Masala in the Nihari was exactly how Hector likes his Curry, seriously Dry and Thick. The Meat content did not appear to be much, however, what I thought was two large bones turned out to be Lamb. There was sufficient Meat, to echo Marg, without a Starter I would have been left wanting more. At £12.25, over-priced.
The Lamb was well cooked and Tender. There was nothing distinctive Flavour-wise, down to a lack of Seasoning. The Paratha could save the day.

The Paratha was as Peely Wally a Paratha as I have encountered. Thin, floppy and far removed from flaky. There was a green colour embedded, the Methi. The Methi Flavour was not pronounced either. One kept hoping for a blast of something. The Pre-Starter and the Starter were far Spicier. I ate the lot.
I have never had a Poor Curry in a Harlequin Restaurant, but I have never been blown away either. If I was regular here, no doubt there would be better communication and the Curry could become bespoke.

Marg insisted on Coffee in case this was her final opperchancity of the evening. We were offered a choice of three Desserts from a list of six – Tapas Dessert. Marg chose these, I helped her eat the Ice Cream. Marg found her Coffee to be as hot as required and the Brownie suited her too. I could see Marg returning here with her Hockey crowd.

The Bill
£12.10. £5.90 of this was the Surcharge for the Vegetables in the Rice and having Paratha not Naan, then the extra for having the Fish and the Nihari. By my calculations (from the Menu) this should have been £3.00 only. Evidently, they calculated otherwise.
I have no idea what the Voucher was worth, this was a Birthday Treat.

The Aftermath
Yet another staff member dealt with the cash. How many had we seen? Nina had looked after us well, asking – The Question – during each course.
The Calling Card was given, their Questionnaire not filled in. This is the Curry-Heute Review.