Gorkha Palace, Gran Canaria (25th September 2015)

Price: €25
Score: 8.833

RECOMMENDED

The second curry of the tour and the boys decided to go to a local curry house,  a ten minute stroll from the hotel.  Upon arrival the boys created mayhem in the Gorkha Palace as the staff tried to accommodate the group with some table shifting, which unfortunately spilled over into disturbing a couple out for a romantic meal.

Once settled plain and spicy poppadoms were ordered with the accompanying pickle tray. This included a hot chilli, mint and coriander pickle which was well received by Tony, Lee and Ian.

So on to starters, Lee went for Paneer Shashlik,  Cauliflower Pakora for Tony and Simon went for Paneer Pakora. Starters scored a combined average of 7.334, Lee and Tony scoring an 8 for their first course, Simon a disappointing 6 for his which lacked a bit of flavour.

 

Mains next, Mixed Veg Korai  for Lee, Paneer Shashlick for Simon and Chicken Tikka Balti for Tony.  All scored well, a nine from Lee who particularly enjoyed his Tarka Dhall side dish.  Tony and Simon went for an 8 each.  Overall average score of 8.334.

 

Service was as you would expect and nothing exceptional although we were offered a complimentary liqueur after the meal, reasonable 7 scored.

 

VFM next and the bill coming in at about €25 euros was what was expected and on a par with other meals, 7.667 scored.

Overall score of 7.584.

Avenida Gran Canaria 22
cc Jardin de sol E
35100 Playa del Ingles
Gran Canaria

Tel: +34 928 76 21 84
 

Bengal Tiger, New York, USA. (4th March 2015)

Bengal Tiger - 56th and 6th Street, NYC.

On Lee's recent work trip to New York he stopped at the Bengal Tiger with a couple of colleagues.  

Poppadoms and pickles started proceeding followed by vegetable samosa.  For main, Lee went for the Paneer Makhani which was a bit on the mild side, but with some green chillies on the side, picked up the heat nicely.

The restaurant is BYO booze, do make sure you stop at the liquor store en route.

58W 56th Street
2nd Floor
New York
NY 10019

Tel: (212) 265-2703
Web: Bengal Tiger Website

Radhuni, Bedford (15th May 2014)

Score: 9.1334
Price: £20-25

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED

Tonight's outing was to the highly recommended Radhuni Indian on the Embankment, Bedford. Reportedly the best Indian in the 3 counties (Beds, Herts & Bucks).

The 4 courses started with freshly cooked popodoms and 5 pickles, onion salad, mango chutney, mint sauce, lime pickle and a chilli chutney. Score 7.1667.

The 1st starter was a vegetarian mixed platter consisting of aloo tikka, paneer tikka, onion bhaji and a veg samosa served with a side salad and relish. All 4 portions were tasty and well cooked, only criticism would be that the samosa looked like it may have been shop bought from the freezer section. The relishes included a spicy chilli chutney, mint sauce and the introduction of a new chutney, a bean-based pickle that had a little spice. Scoring an impressive 9.5 overall with all saying they'd order it again!

The 2nd course was a spicy Paneer Pepper Tikka - the waiter warned us twice that is was on the hot-side, that'll be due to the naga chillies.....the reality was it was not silly hot but did hold some heat. We skipped scores as the Second course was out of the norm, but the consensus from the group was full markers, 10 out of 10! So highly recommended.

For mains, Lee ordered veg jalfrezi with a garlic nan, simon chose chicken rezalla (a spicy dish with a base of crushed chillies) with pilau rice , Tony having Sho coo tee chicken (a complex spiced Goan dish) with mushroom rice. Again, well cooked food with good spice and flavours. After some serious deliberating and cogitating and overall score for the mains was 9, TC scoring 10, Lee 9 and Simon 8.

Service was very good, attentive and friendly with a visit from the manager to say hello. The offer of a free drink at the end of the meal isn't unusual but at the Radhuni, the waiter comes round with a drinks trolley with a choice of 20 drinks to choose from which was a really nice touch. Service scored full marks again at 10/10.

With regards to value for money, looking at some of the prices on the menu, there was an expectation this could let the Radhuni down, however the lads were pleasantly surprised with the bill, and the fact that the owner gave each of the lads a £10 voucher for next time meant scores hit another full marks, 10/10 again!

So overall the Radhuni scored  9.1334 making it into the top 5!

38 The Embankment

Bedford

Bedfordshire

MK40 3PF

Tel: 01234 272227

Website: http://www.radhunigroup.com/bedford/

Gandhi, Sandy (4th April 2012)

The boys made a trip to the local, Gandhi in Sandy (see 1st May 2009) for the official review and scoring), Lee's regular!

Popodoms started proceedings, albeit only 4, lowest count to date! Puree’s were big for the starters with Simon electing for chicken, Tony prawns and Lee veggie saag on purer. Lee's choice seemed to confuse the waiter somewhat... All starters hit the spot.

Mains included Lee's weekly dish of Veg vinda (his third in 24 hours), prawns biriany for Tony (double prawns for Tony) and a surprise choice for Simon of Egg and Paneer Madras, which took Lee and the waiter by surprise as isn't a typical choice for Simon (and I'd go as far to say, probably the first person in the Gandhi's 25 yr history to order this particular dish!!!!).

All dishes delivered to the Gandhi's high and expected standard - clear plates all round.

Tony, as predicted, went for the pineapple ice-cream to finish.

Another good outing, in preparation for the bi-annual trip to Birmingham at the weekend, so further reviews with scoring to follow.

37 High Street
Sandy
Bedfordshire
SG19 1AG

Mem Saab, Bedford (31st March 2012)

Simon's next individual entry for the club. Following the rugby which Bedford won, decided to go to the award winning restaurant in Bedford, following a few beers at The Cricketers, great pub with a Welsh theme.

Started with the prawn puri, which was good, but needed a little more spice. Followed with the club favourite ingredient, paneer, had it in a madras sauce, with rice and nan, teamed it with a mutter paneer, really good. Then pudding, my favourite gulab jamon, as fellow members know a guaranteed 10! Really excellent pudding, served with a coconut kulfi - best gulab I have had.

This restaurant was ok but expected a bit more quality than we got. Not bad but have been to better.

4 Kimbolton Road
Bedford
MK40 2NR

Tel: 01234 344440

Website: http://www.mem-saab.com/bedford/

Gandhi, Kennington, London (30th March 2012)

Lee's latest UK curry was in Kennington, following his return from the US only 7 hours earlier!

To start, Paneer Tikki read well on the menu, slight disappointment with only 2 pieces of paneer, normally 6-8!! An average 6 out of 10 if official scoring was being undertaken. Lee did successfully introduce other members of the party to paneer.

The regular veg vinda and plain nan followed, accompanied by aloo gobi - did not disappoint - hot an spicy and very tasty. Highly recommended if you fancy a hot ruby.

Great curry when south of the river, with a celeb or two thrown in if your lucky.

347a Kennington Road

London
SE11 4QE

Tel: 020 7735 9015

Website: http://www.gandhis.co.uk/

Tantric Indian Bistro, Boston, USA (26th March 2012)

Lee's latest trip to the US created another opportunity for some state-side Indian food. First stop off in Boston.

Popodoms and pickles good, could have done with bigger bowls for chutney as needed replenishing. Paneer pakora was awesome, stuffed deep fried paneer, 10 out of 10 for sure.

Followed by vegetable and paneer vindaloo. A first for Lee, he was asked if he wanted 10 out of 10 hot! He elected for 9 out of 10 - he did have client meetings the following day!! Accompanied with a plain nan. Great curry, full of flavour and 2 green chillies gave it a bit of a kick.

Good place to visit if you find yourself in Boston.

So, not a bad start, on to Toronto tomorrow to see what the Canadians can offer this time around, as last time Lee was in Canada he had a great value feed.

123 Stuart Street
Boston
Massachusetts
USA

Tel: 617.367.8742

Website: http://tantricgrill.com/home/

Himalayan Cuisine, Frisco, Colorado (9th February 2012)

Lee has recently returned from a skiing trip and visited this curry house in Colorado, this is his first contribution to share his restaurants.

STARTER
Paneer Kebab and Paneer Pakora

MAIN
Paneer Makhani
Veg Vindaloo
Shahi dall (Lamb)
Rice and Garlic Nan


Himalayan Cuisine
409 Main Street
Frisco
Colorado

Tel: 970.668.330

Wesbite: http://himalayancuisinefrisco.com/