Lahori Spice Village - more of a hamlet actually.

Greetings,

So we embarked on our first midweek meeting, with a routine pint at the Selkirk. I think hopes were kind of high for this venue because it always seemed very busy, whenever any of us had gone past it. An active venue seems to call out to you to try it, so I'd been looking forward to this one. Plus it had the look of a tiny canteen which always amuses me. So we were good to go.

Attendees:

Berry7.
Spice Jet Farmer.
Desmond.
Big Dunc.
Paulo.
Matt (non Ozzie)

The "Strictly no alcohol" sign on the door brought immediate disappointment but after a brief discussion, we accepted this and went on in. Greeted immediately, we were sat at a table where the dips were already awaiting our feeding frenzy and poppadoms were forthcoming. This was more like it! Batter me with me food the moment I arrive, please.

This introduction was very pleasing and the waiter took our drink order quickly as well. Mango lassis all round then. The poppadoms were very good and the dips refilled heartily by the staff whilst our orders were taken for the starters. Everything was moving very quickly but not in a rushed way and soon we were all agreeing that this was the best service we'd seen yet. Would it continue?

The starters came out and we had chicken tikka, sheek kebab (I think) and vegetable samosas. The tikka was kind of strange, but in a good way, and the kebab was very pleasing as well. The samosas rounded off the starters nicely and we sat about impressed with everything put in front of us. We hadn't really had a chance to complain yet. As we sat there, random waiters scrubbed down the counters and tables and you got the impression that cleanliness was important here. Never a bad thing to see.

Then we ordered mains and here the service really got going. Our waiter, whom I think was the owner, chatted us through the realms of naan breads available and put up with all our questions about the various dishes. I'm not a curry expert so I'm trying to ask more and learn about the different foods and it's good when someone talks you through it. So engulfed were we by naan information that we, ok I, ordered a shed load ranging from keema to chill and garlic to jeera. I think we ordered 5 in some sort of dough frenzy as the waiter described different ones that we hadn't had before. It was all very exciting.

The mains came in good time and with a flurry of activity. Chicken jalfrezi, methi, dopiaza, mutton nihari, fish tikka masala, taka dal, bombay aloo and 47 different types of naan. In true TCC style the mains were passed round for judging and the consensus was positive. They continued where the starters left off and we all ploughed in like we hadn't eaten for days. We had enough naan to build a raft and float down the Thames.

So, onto the scores.

The place - 6 out of 10. It's not flash and it's not going to impress anyone but it is clean and intimate. It is just another canteen style venue in this sense but it does the job fine. Special mention for the gas meter in the men's toilet which looks like it might fall of at any given moment onto your head. Worth the entrance fee alone.

The Service - 9 out of 10. Right here is why this place stands out from the crowd. We may have been lucky because it was mid week, and I think we got the owner, but the attention throughout the meal, from everyone, was second to none. Dips were refilled without asking, drinks were brought quickly, dishes were explained and naans recommended. It's not that hard to do which makes you wonder why it feels so rare to find a place that can. Great stuff.

Starters and Sundries - 8 out of 10. Good all round score here. The poppadoms were brought swiftly and the dips attended to twice I think. Good chunky chutney and a good touch of spice in the chilli sauce. The startes were tasty and the naans were varied and of a good size. The keema naan and chilli naan were my favourites.

Curry - 7 out of 10. Good portion sizes and lots of flavour. I think I tried all the dishes and all were of a decent standard. The ghee content (fat) was slightly high if you were going to be honest but this didn't affect the enjoyment of the meal. They were by no means incredible and weren't up to Lahore's standard but they were still good. I particularly enjoyed the fish but then I always do. The Nihari was also very different and something I hadn't had before.

Value for Money - 8 out of 10.

The bill came to £60.30 for the 6 of us. However we did order drinks which aren't normally factored into the bill as we normally bring our own. So this needs to be taken into account. I think the drinks were about £7. So with a tip, drinks and eating more naan than is advisable the cost was £11 each. Given the food and drink bonanza, we all felt this was very good value for money. I think we pushed the bill up with our eagerness and greed.

Total - 38 out of 50.

This came out equal with Lahore. Which is a big statement. And here you enter the realm of what makes a good night at the curry house. If you factor in only the curry and starters etc then Lahore is a tough benchmark to beat but Lahori Spice Village upped its game with its service. This really fired its score up and allowed it to compete with the more established brands on the high street. We all came away pretty impressed by this and accepted that it deserved to be joint with Lahore on it s all round showing. If you want amazing curry then go to Lahore. But equally go to Lahori Spice Village for a good all round experience. And for the gas meter. Maybe we caught the owner on a good night or maybe it is easier to be attentive on a quieter evening but it was still quite busy and you can only judge on what you see and experience.

The Happy Meal came out at a good price.

Tarka Dall - £3.50

Plain Rice - £1.50

Plain Naan - 60p

Sweet Lassi - £1.50

Total - £7.10. A bit more than Lahore but in the same area. Makes you see the price increase of Masaledar's plush surroundings. But some people will like that so choice is good.

The only slight reservation I'd now make in hindsight is that I got a bit ill after the visit here. Dunc, with his cast iron stomach, also felt a bit under the weather on his cycle home. I am not convinced either of us can point a finger at the venue but we did say we'd list anything that came up as a footnote. Even more reason to go back and check it out again. So we will.

Hope that clears up for Russ why I took so long to post. You weren't far off in your guess as it goes. Again I'd like to say that I'm not implying the food made me ill but that we will file it away under "review again". I see Ash Aktar has posted a comment on this blog as well. Welcome. Feedback always appreciated.

The highlight of this whole visit though was Paul snatching a TCC business card off me at the end and slipping it in with the bill and the money we had left. Be interesting to see if anyone ever comes on here to berate us. Time will tell.

Berry7.