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.
The monthly trip to The Staggs (Musselburgh), Scotland’s Finest Pub – by far, saw only three Weegies present. At the time of the return, The Faither went for his bus, leaving Craig to resolve that he would accompany Hector to the 
Chef Rashid was fronting the shop from the rear. No sign of Ayaz, and the New Chap who I have finally identified as Qaiser, was out on a delivery as we arrived. Hector’s Lamb Karahi was arranged with minimal exchange. The hand gesture was enough to establish that if there was enough Meat on the premises, Large was preferred. Time for Craig to negotiate.
The Spanish Lady brought the Modest Salad and later the Raita. We stared at them both. Is this a new coffee dispenser that is in situ?
Has Craig acquired a stutter? A Completely different ball game from my last time when I didn’t even order Korma. Absolutely beautiful!
One is regularly reminded that Yvonne would not eat like that. Craig had a different approach. The Knife and Fork. Unwavering, systematic, inefficient, and surely an erosion of the Sheer Enjoyment on offer. Or, maybe not… Even the Modest Salad was tackled with such a genteel manner.
Time was taken to admire the Dishes on Display. The Chicken Palak looked appealing. Is Hector building up to ordering a Chicken Curry?
At 16.30 there were two couples already established in Bombay Blues. They occupied the window tables, the young waiter showed me to a small table adjacent to the couple who had just arrived before me. Why do they do this? I would have to spend my entire visit trying not to hear other people’s conversations.
Spooning the large pieces of Tender Lamb on to the Rice I stopped counting at twelve. Most of this Lamb would be halved. This was an Excellent Portion Size. The Achari was Piping Hot and Well-Seasoned. Oil was very visible in the base of the karahi, off putting for some. Not excessive. However the Onion was Excessive in the extreme. The Onion pieces were not as large as some venues have served but there was certainly an over-abundance. Was this Dish meant to have 
The Masala was not as Thick as the Hector optimum, but still, fine. This was Achari. Where was the Pickle? There was no sign of it in the Mash, and no Citrus Flavour emerged. Was this Achari?
A Thursday in April, a Curry. The last ever Curry with a work related evening to follow.
The Chicken Tikka in the Mixed Combo has come to the fore in recent visits. It used to be the Lamb Tikka that stood apart. The Seekh Kebab has taken a firm back seat. Succulent only begins to describe the Chicken Tikka. The Lamb Tikka took in more spice. A Perfect Combination.
That was lovely – was James initial remark for his Prawn Puri. And it will not be my last. QED.
The Tetula was served with sufficient Masala, they do not to serve Soup at the Akash. The covering of Dry Methi was Liberal, here we go…
The Lamb Achari as served at the 
Just after 13.00 we wandered back down towards the Isar and the final meal of this trip at 
When Clive finally got around to his – Lipsmackingly good. Very good meat, extremely tender lamb, all meat, no straggly bits.
Maggie enjoyed hers too – not so spicy I couldn’t taste it.
Herr Battra brought Dessert – from Jolly.
Howard and Tracey, took the adjacent table some twenty minutes later, Lamb and Fish Chettinad respectively. The Six had yet to be fed, The Special would take some time.
I had no idea what would be presented. An entire Fish on-the-bone lay across the plate covered with Masala that took Minimum to the extreme. The Lemon Wedges were squeezed, the juice drizzled over the Fish. The Flavours? I had no idea. Different – was my only description at the time. There was Spice, there was just enough Masala. This was not the Chettinad Masala.
So stunning was the Lamb Chettinad served at the 
The Bill
The Dhaba Indisches Restaurant (Belgradstraße 16, 80796, 
En route we passed Deeba, a Pakistani Restaurant, and soon afterwards Indisches Streetfood, both on Barerstrasse which leads towards Schwabing, our objective. The latter will certainly be tried on a future visit, a classic Café, the preferred style.
With white table cloths, this formal atmosphere is not the sort of Indian Restaurant that Hector currently seeks. Still, a quick glance at other sources showed that some hold this venue in the highest regard. The Menu was mostly familiar. The Lamm Karahi listed the inevitable Capsicum. Rather than attempt interfering with this the Rarha Gosht was possibly along the correct lines. Rice would be inclusive.
It was arranged with The Waiter that the Samosa would arrive at the same time as The Main. Complimentary Poppadoms and Dips were provided. The European Poppadoms with embedded Cumin Seeds are always a welcomed site, a Blast! A Soupçon of Lime Pickle would titillate Hector’s Palate a little more.
The Quantity of Tender Lamb was Sufficient. The Masala was thankfully not to excess and had an acceptable Texture; not overtly Thick and Dry, but far removed from Soup. A Decent Onion-based Masala. There was a Modest Kick. With more Rice than a man could eat there was quite a lot to get through. Still more pieces of Capsicum were uncovered, my enjoyment of the majority of this meal was manifesting itself. How good was it really?
The Seasoning and Spice hit the palate instantly. Marg knows the accompanying Hector Facial Expression when Curry Nirvana is attained. These moments are relatively rare. Hector enjoys some High Quality Curry Experiences but there are The Special Moments.
Herr Battra brought the Curry and Inclusive Boiled Rice. The Aroma is Unique, the Curry smells Spicy and Smoky. The Masala is at the Absolute end of Minimal with finely chopped Onion and Chillies. The Seasoning was aided by the Fish itself, the Complexity of the Flavours is simply Astonishing.
