Curry-Heute

Dr Stan, Robin, Howard and Tracey were standing outside the still temporary Village premises (129 Nelson St, Tradeston, Glasgow, G5 8DZ) when Hector arrived punctually.  The table was not ready.  Yvonne had texted to say she and Craig would be ten minutes late.  Jonathan was later still. The front of house staff have all changed in the last few weeks and so our party were strangers to the them.

Dr Stan and Hector had a new strategy to overcome the small-ish portions now being served up, we would share a third Curry.  This was the Lamb Aloo from the Specials Board.  For my main the Lamb Laal Lahori was the selection from the Desi part of the menu.  Dr Stan, Howard and Yvonne had the classic Village Lamb Desi Korma. Tracey investigated the possibility of having a Keema version created (not on the menu) and there was compliance. Jonathan had the third great Desi dish on offer The Tawa.  Robin, who rarely eats his Curry this early in the day, selected the Lamb Bhuna, and Craig opted for the Chicken Tikka Balti, or the Baby Food.  Many plates of Vegetable Rice were ordered and Plain Basmati too and only a solitary Paratha.

One Robin

It was approaching 15.50 when the dishes started to arrive from the kitchen.  Both my dishes came first.  The Plain Rice portions were well behind the rest of the order which was somewhat frustrating for those who sat watching their food go cold.  It was only then that the Paratha was even considered.  This is the penalty for dining in such a large group, they never manage to get all the dishes out together.

The Laal Lahori was a pleasant change.  The rich Tomato flavoured Masala comes through strongly.  I had asked for it hot, it was.  However, the Lamb Aloo was even hotter! A portion and a half left Dr Stan and Hector very well fed indeed.  Five hours later Jonathan was hungry again, he should have planned his day better.

Yvonne ate all of her Rice which made her realise the portion must have been smaller.  Indeed, the consensus around the table was that we had been given less than we have become used to over the years.  That every plate and serving dish was scraped clean suggests most could have eaten more.  Dr Stan plodded on to the end of his 1.5 Curry Portions and stated that he had again thoroughly enjoyed his meal.

That’s the way to do it.

The Bill

£82 between eight of us.  This remains excellent value but I believe we would be happier to pay a pound or so more and not have Hector making negative comments about one of his favourite Curry Houses.

The New Premises

Posted April 24th, 2010: What is happening? Posters on the window…ah the planned renovations are under way. The downstairs is being expanded into the industrial unit across the small lane, strange, but we will find out when all is complete in two months.

Polished stone cladding has covered up the bare blocks that have been the facade over the winter.  The end must be in sight.  Two months?

She knows you know

There was a dearth of Bier in the city of Glasgow today.  Given the Curry intake in previous days Hector had not organised any distraction.  15.00 came and went, the Drum and Monkey’s Jaipur was potable but not outstanding.  As the company disintegrated Mags announced she was going for a Takeaway at The Village (129 Nelson Street, Tradeston, Glasgow, G5 8DZ)  on her way home.  She knows the rule.

A short bus hop across the river and we were sat in the middle of the temporary accommodation.  Temporary ? – not much has changed across the street in the weeks since the last visit.

No need for a menu

Two Village Lamb Desi Kormas (hot) off-the-bone, one large Mushroom Rice, and a Garlic and Coriander Nan was the order given to the gracious young lady who now patrols the tables.

There were other diners but the Curry did not take too long to appear, ah the joy of not sitting down in a large group.

Please, Sir – can I have some more?

April 16 (2011)                         October 16 (2010)

Hector has made more than passing comment on the fact that the portions at The Village have been shrinking in recent times.  (Don’t even think about ordering Lamb on-the-bone.)  Tonight’s portion was smaller than Starters I have had in Bradford.  Has Glasgow adopted the ‘London portion’ ?

The Nan bread was terrible, it had not risen.  The presented Rice was a single portion of Pilau, not what had been ordered.  Fortunately it was Master Baig who brought the order to the table and so the Rice problem was quickly rectified.  However, there was no magic wand to make the pieces of meat multiply.

Having asked for hot this certainly was.  The Citrus was evident but not much else, this had been overdone.  Mags thought it was seriously hot. She recalled how a previous hot Curry had been left in her fridge overnight and became much more accessible the next day; this became her tactic for tonight as a doggy bag was sought for the small quantity  she did not eat.  Meanwhile Hector had scraped his bowl clean.

The Bill

£22 is again in the realm of the affordable; however I would rather pay more and guarantee sufficiency.  Master Baig was manning the till when we left and so it became the perfect opperchancity to make some quiet remarks.

Hector’s Comments

The portions are visibly smaller, so please put up the price if required and give us back a meal.

Ordering Lamb on-the-bone is now a non starter given the portion size is the same as off-the-bone and em, there is bone debris left ….  I was told that Lamb on-the-bone is dearer. Not in the Halal shops I visit. (This will be verified, I was told.)

Why not sell by the (half-) kilo? Then one knows exactly what to expect.

It is written

Yvonne has declared that our next Curry-Heute gathering shall be here at The Village: Saturday 23^rd.  Dr Stan and Hector may order three portions between us, else I shall be having a Starter/Dessert.