This was not intended to be a two-Curry-day, sometimes it just happens. Craig and Yvonne announced their intention to stay over in Edinburgh this evening prior to our Staggs (Musselburgh) trip tomorrow. With Marg presently up north, Hector thought – why not?
Having checked-in to the Haymarket Travelodge at 15.00, the nearby Rustom Restaurant (2 Grosvenor St, Edinburgh EH12 5EG) was the locus of the planned Curry-Heute. Being open all afternoon is a decided plus, this is the time of day Hector prefers to eat. Two chaps sat at the window table to the right, I was given the equivalent table to the left.
The Menu was brought, prices have gone up a bit since last year. The half-kilo remains a no-go option for the solo diner. £17.95 for the half kilo of Lamb Karahi on-the-bone is disproportionately high compared to the £24.95 for the kilo. 
Old is Gold – says the Curry section of the Menu, all Lamb Dishes are £11.95, no – Fish – option.
Bhuna was considered first, then Rogan Josh. Finally, Punjabi Masala became Hector’s choice. A – Dry Curry – it claimed, and why not celebrate one of Edinburgh’s few Punjabi outlets.
£1.95 for a Chapati, they’re having a laugh.
Boiled Rice (£2.50) was the logical accompaniment, not the Pilao (£3.95) or the whopping £4.50 for Egg or Mushroom Rice. How could Keema Rice (4.20) be less than Mushroom Rice?
As Cider has a tendency to follow Curry, today I considered having this as an accompaniment. When the waiter described the Strongbow (£5.50) as being from a can, and presumably 440ml, it was back to the standard Sparkling Water. £4.95 for the litre felt like a better deal. It’s Water.
I asked that no Green, Red, or Yellow Peppers would appear in my Curry. This was noted, somehow – on top – became part of the conversation. The warm bottle of Water arrived with a glass and ice. The waiter soon realised that more ice was required, he brought another glass, excellent anticipation. Hector was being well looked after, the waiter balanced attention with not being over-keen. He also noted my details for the purposes of NHS track and trace, no QR codes here.
I watched the occasional movement of staff around the restaurant, no sign of Yasi or Sunni, unless the latter has grown his beard. With the restaurant empty bar Hector, an opperchancity to secure more photos of the interior.
Meanwhile, I could not help but wonder who gave permission for the monstrosity that is under construction opposite, at what must be one of the most famous, and historic junctions in Scotland.
The Curry and Rice arrived after a sensible amount of time. The Rice looked particularly – white. – and fluffy. The portion was well judged.
Lamb Punjabi Masala
The blended Masala was topped with a Coriander garnish, leaves and stems. I counted seven quite large pieces of Meat as I arranged the Lamb and Masala on the Rice. Thankfully the Meat was Soft-Tender. Having done six rounds with Henry Cooper, aka – The Dentist – this morning, the anaesthetic may have worn off, but opening my mouth was still a challenge. Roll on an aching jaw tomorrow.
The Spice Level was well judged, a presence, not a challenge. The Seasoning was below the Hector idyll, however, there was still plenty of Flavour forthcoming. I convinced myself there was a sense of Pickle, but Achari this was not. A – Tangy Flavour – then, definitely an enjoyable experience.
This, my fifth visit to Rustom, is the first time I have had a Mainstream Curry, the Desi Karahi is of course outstanding. Today’s Curry was certainly well worth having. Every morsel, grain of Rice was eaten. Always a good sign, one feels the waiter should offer congratulations, alas he had been programmed to offer me – more. I took my time and finished the Sparkling Water. It was approaching 16.00, Neil would be waiting at Monty’s.
The Bill
£19.40 Restaurant prices, Edinburgh restaurant prices.
The Aftermath
A staff member and I did the double take, was this Sunni? Masks don’t help.
And so for a pleasant evening in – Edinburgh’s only pub – I’m told oft. Why do I prefer The Stockbridge Tap?
Hector had a a midnight Kebap in mind, yet it was only 22.00 when – time – was called. Ridiculous. Craig and Yvonne had Curry in mind. They knew that the highly recommended Lazeez Tandoori (191 Dalry Rd, Edinburgh EH11 2EB) was not far away, but Hector would have to lead them. Hector leading anyone, anywhere in Edinburgh?
Dalry Road appeared to be going on and on, all the way to Dalry. Just how much further was Lazeez?
From across the street, Hector was hailed. Behold, the daughter of David, sister of Ben, former school dux, and so much more intelligent by far… Hector recognises faces, they are unique, names are recyclable. I gave in, Laura!
Laura told me she passes Lazeez Tandoori everyday and has wondered if I knew about it. Does Laura not read Curry-Heute? There had to be a photo to mark the moment, and permission was granted to post it.
Half a block on was Lazeez Tandoori. Closed on Tuesdays, so no longer a seven day operation. If they opened earlier than 16.00 there would have been more visits by now. Kebab Mahal near Edinburgh University is presently Hector’s go to early Curry venue.
The tried and tested Lamb Karahi (£9.95) – without Capsicum – would be accompanied by a – soft – Paratha (£2.50) and a half litre bottle of Mango Rubicon (£0.99).
The Bill
£13.44 Paid by card, as is the custom in these times.
Is small permitted? – asked the serving chap with reference to Capsicum. If I didn’t accept this, then no Curry. Why had I not ordered Methi Gosht (£7.50)?
I heard Craig pay £10.00 which he thought was too little. Later, Craig and Yvonne would tell me he ordered Chicken Jalfrezi (£7.95) and a Lamb Balti (not on the Menu). In the end they received one Curry only, which could have been anything. Whatever, they thoroughly enjoyed it, and having unknowingly passed Lazeez Tandoori for years, they will be back.
Being uber-hungry, Yvonne produced a taxi back t’Travelodge. The food would still be hot, so not a bad idea.
I had asked for a Soft Paratha in the hope of receiving something close to my Perfect Paratha, only sourced at Tanjore – South Indian Restaurant in Edinburgh to date. This Paratha was soft, as in a Wholemeal Potato Scone. Despite the burnt blisters this was not the layered and flaky offering that ticks Hector’s boxes. Not an appetising Paratha.
Lamb Karahi
I could see copious bits of something red, and so picked out a mass of these before commencing. I soon discovered that these were pieces of Tomato, not the Dreaded Capsicum. With larger pieces also, this was quite a Tomato-rich Curry.
The Meat was plentiful, cut small, but not as extreme as Bradford-small, and was suitably Tender. The Spice was there, Seasoning was not. As a result this Curry had but one Flavour, a monochromatic Curry, is what was recorded, but black and white is/are two colours. Aber, Schwarze ist nicht ein Farbe! – as I learned on a Grobschnitt album.
As Curry goes, this was fine, in terms of Karahi, why did Chef think this was one? I did not see who cooked my Dish, usually Hector is recognised at Lazeez, not tonight. Face masks don’t help.
Did I mention it was actually a Donner Kebap I wanted this evening? Tomorrow, after Staggs.
Thursday morning update:
Waiting for the 44 Bus to Musselburgh from Dalry Rd, I noticed that Verandah has gone. This was recommended as – the place – to go for Curry in Edinburgh back in the 1980s and so for decades was the only Curry House I ever went to in the Capital. My final, and only visit in the era of Curry-Heute, was not wonderful.