Hector has been presented with some very Dubious Bread throughout February and March, time to address this. There is also the likelihood of many Curry-Heute Blogs this week. The end of term approaches, Marg is busy every night, I ain’t cooking for One.
Standout Breads in the recent past have included the Masala Twist, both Glasgow City Centre and their new Helensburgh Venue, and especially the Keema Paratha served at the Rawalpindi (321 Sauchiehall St, Glasgow, G2 3HW). The plan was to order a Vegetable Curry and let the Meat content of the Paratha reign supreme.
At 17.00, Hector was the Lone Diner. A couple did arrive just as I departed. A quiet Monday evening. The Young Waiter was somewhat taken aback by the order. Mince Paratha (£3.50) and Two Vegetable Sides was the plan. The Vegetable Sides are available at £5.50 as opposed to £8.45 for the Full Portion. An Alloo Gobi, Mixed Indian Vegetable Curry and the Keema Paratha were ordered.
The Potato and Cauliflower should be served Dry. The Vegetable Curry can be as it comes, no worry.
No Rice? No Naan? (Eh?)
No Poppadoms? No Starters?
Hector has never ordered such a Bizarre Combination. Would it suffice?
The Sparkling Water was provided, though I note I did not see it on the Menu last visit. The Trusty Samsung is becoming a Nuisance. Do these devices have inbuilt obsolescence?
The Waiter brought my Three Dishes plus an extra plate to add to the one already on the table. These were taken away. The plate for the Paratha was enough.
The Curry-Heute Test
Can a Venue which serves an impressive Dish repeat it?
The answer was apparent instantly. What worked so well last time was the fact that the Mince was spread evenly across the interior of the Paratha, not this Donner-like Mass that prevails elsewhere. The heart sank. I had been looking forwards to this so much. A different Chef?
The Vegetable Curry contained Kadu, Onion, Okra and Aubergine. The Masala was not excessive, the Seasoning was Perfect and there was a Tang which dominated rather a Kick. Most enjoyable.
The Cauliflower and Potato added the necessary Bulk. More Cumin please.
As a Strange Curry Order this worked fine. A pity the Paratha did not live up to expectation.
The Bill
£16.60. I had no Discount Voucher. Poor Planning on My part.
The Aftermath
The Calling Card was dropped off again. No fuss.
Update August 2015
Rawalpindi is no more. The Curse of The World Buffet?
Hector has no plans to ever visit, never mind revue, these establishments.
The Giant’s Causeway has to be mentioned, Hector’s First Venture this far North. Vodafone became the enemy by telling me I was abroad and charging me thus.
We climbed the stairs at the appointed time and were shown to a table which was remote from the remainder of the room. As my eyes became accustomed to the semi-darkness, I could see a large Bar in the distance and the source of the Live Music, a Doris, in the distance still. These premises are indeed large. As the Nu Delhi calls itself a Lounge as well as a Restaurant, I was left to speculate how many folk would come here to Drink and Relax rather than Dine. We were here To Dine.
Kim on Hector’s left, and a Veteran of these Trips chose Chicken Patia with a Plain Naan. Beyond this life was becoming complicated. Sharing a Curry? Lucy1, sitting diagonally opposite Kim would be sharing her Meal. Rebecca and Kirsty, Two more Veterans, were to share a Butter Chicken and Peshwari Naan.
There was a consensus that the Breads provided were Small compared to Glasgow. Average – was about the best comment, I didn’t record anyone enthuse about their Naan. Nor would Hector.
The Lamb Desi Karahi was topped with Two Slices of Red Capsicum. I suspect this was to identify it. The Onion content was such that the Lamb was masked. The Curry was at least far removed from the Soup served to everyone else. Initially I thought the Portion Size to be ridiculously Small, but in the end – Modest – feels fair. There was not a lot of Meat in this Curry for the price charged. What Lamb there was gave pleasure, more when a couple of pieces were located at the base of the Dish. Flavours were at a premium. This was not a Complicated Curry, there was a source of the Kick. Initially I suspected Black Pepper, but then I deduced something Redder.
Normally The Bill appears at this location, however, the Night was still young. Our Friendly Manager returned to chat up the Ladies. A Magic Trick was conducted featuring the assistance of Hector and Marg. It was evident that we were under no pressure to leave despite occupying significant space.
Archana (53 Dublin Rd, Belfast, County Antrim, BT2 7HE, United Kingdom) ranks highly in many other Curry Information Sources. Their own website states that Archana was voted Best in Belfast 2013. By whom? Who wins Awards? I went in last night to try and book a Table for Thirteen for this evening, no chance. The Premises only sat about Twenty Plus, but I did not know then that there’s an upstairs seating the same again.
Our Table for Two was allocated mid-room. Mein Host brought the Menu and took the order for the Large Bottle of Sparkling Water. Marg spotted Latte on the Menu but was informed this was not possible, a broken machine. Hot Milk on the side with a standard Coffee was available.
The Paratha was Thin, so Thin I wondered as to the extent of the Potato Filling. This, if any, was Minimal. I was on my Final Quarter when I realised I still had substantial Curry to eat, so the Portion Size was indeed Decent. The Paratha disappointed. The Karahi was Fine.
Dessert
The Calling Card was offered and the Website explained. Mein Host was clearly interested in where we had come from, my motivation for all he had witnessed. A very pleasant chat then followed. As The Readers know, Hector enjoys talking – Curry. The Regional Styles were discussed. Mein Host even mentioned the varying Salt Content of Curry by Geography.
Last month Ashgar, Mein Host at 
Cobra felt fitting this evening. Given that we were on a promised £15.00 per head flat rate for the food (as is available a la carte every Wednesday and Thursday) at least there would be a profit on the Bier. For a brief moment Alan convinced me he had sampled Cobra, then it was normality resumed, Cider at $??.?? per pint.
A plate piled high with Poppadoms was brought along with the Dips – Spiced Onion, Lime Pickle and Mango Chutney Sauce. No sooner had these arrived when Dr Stan appeared at the top of the stairs.
As much as Alan would enjoy what followed, he later remarked that this was the Stand-out part of the Fayre for him. I don’t even like Raita. The Cucumber puts him off, yet the combination of Shami Kebab and Raita worked. Alan will be imbibing in Hop and Yeast laden Drinks one day soon…
The Mince Rice was the first Platter to arrive. A Mountain of Rice which was laden with Keema and Flavoured with Various Spices and Cloves much to the fore. This would have satisfied some, but the Real Business was imminent.
Ashgar had mentioned Kofta when the evening was conceived. Kofta Karahi was next out. The Lamb Mince Balls were perfect, the Masala a bit on the Thin and Oily side for me. This was definitely well received overall, and all the Koftas vanished. Dr. Stan on my left, had found that his slightly peripheral seat now had its advantages, everything stopped at him.
Steve spotted that this too was on-the-bone. The Masala was similar to the Chicken Karahi, as One would expect, but now We had Lamb! There was no way the contents of this Bowl would survive very long. This was as Flavoursome a Curry as One would hope to be served anywhere.
The Verdict
y in the Mix. Although not a fan of Chicken Curry, the Chicken Karahi was Excellent. Combined with a Superb Starter and the Wonderfully Attentive Service, it was a Wonderful Curry Experience.
I asked Ashgar if he knew that the Teak and Ash, a derelict Helensburgh Pub, has just been granted Planning Permission, well the Applicants have, to be converted to Helensburgh’s #4 Indian Restaurant. Does this town possess the Threshold Population to support another Curry Outlet? The expansion at Faslane may well make this viable. Or perhaps not.
If I don’t have a 
Poppadoms, Spiced Onions and Dips were brought along with Four Cans of Rubicon Mango. Not a word had been said, this is the Customary Level of Service at Yadgar. These Spiced Onions are Woe… Eye Watering – said Tracey. A Salad had appeared, the Munching continued. Again with no Ceremony, a Plate of Fish Pakora was laid before us. Jonathan remarked that the Distinctive Yadgar Fish Starter Taste was evident here. We were in danger of being stuffed before The Main Event.
The Main Karahi went around the Table once more, and still there was plenty. I tried to order a second Stomach, but apparently they needed more notice to comply with this request.
The past eight days have been frustrating. Off work, at work then off again, a situation it has taken Thirty Three Years to finally consider; a record gone.
I took my Usual Spot having liberated a Can of Orange Lucozade from the Fridge. I’m definitely milking this. A Glass was provided and The Modest Salad. Without the Raita I tend to ignore it.
There must be a reason. Today Hector was under the knife at the Western Infirmary. I managed to be discharged before dinner was served. I have plans for this evening – I told the Nurse. Lunch was Microfish and Chips. Not a Hector portion. Some of the afternoon was spent sussing out the view from a different Room 23. The plan was a Takeaway from the Asian Tandoori (3A Duntreath Ave. Glasgow, G13 4JG) , a Takeaway which appeared last year.
Marg had her Pakora Fresh, mine had a 2.5 minute Microwave Blast some three hours later, not ideal. However, this is about all Pakora can take. Stodgy – was our common comment for both the Fresh and reheated. Too much Gram Flour, not enough Vegetables. You cannot beat the 
Not the largest of Venues, we took a table on the raised Dias to the rear, but only after Marg had attempted to access this via the passage to the Rest-rooms. Two other Couples would join us at adjacent tables, away from a possible Draught at the opening door? Well, it’s still winter. The Waitress brought The Menus.
Karelan – Beef curried with a dark roasted spice mixture, coconut milk, shredded ginger and fresh coriander. Well that was the Listed Ingredients, no mention of the Bitter Vegetable. Time to take advice.
Time to Dip the Garlic Naan. Marg had already noted her level of disappointment – Too Doughy. I had to agree. There was a consensus that the Naan were reheated, and possibly not even uncooked on arrival at Malabar.
The Aloo Masala was actually Very Good. A Thick Masala which suggested an Oil-Onion Base. There was a Cumin Blast, from somewhere, – Flavour at last. This became the Focus.
John posted a Photo of Lamb Karahi – Hector-style – during the week as served at 
The First Dip raised a Hector Gasp. Mags assumed I had burned my mouth. The Curry was that Hot. Indeed, how does One put Food into One’s Mouth which cannot actually be touched with Fingers?
Ayaz brought the Second Chapatti, great to see it arrive Fresh and Piping Hot. I glanced over at Rashid and gave the thumbs up.
I thoroughly enjoyed the Curry, and would have done so even more if it had been Cooler.
has time to cook these days.
