Re: Red Amber & Black Curry Guide : Sun Mar 21, 2010 4:33 pm  

Went to the International last night. First time for years and years. The food was fantastic. The onion bhagees were a meal in themselves and my veg dopiaza was delicious. A little on the mild side maybe. Extremely friendly waiters and able to take out own drinks in, bought from the shop next door!
It certainly will not be years before our next visit.

[Bullseye]

Re: Red Amber & Black Curry Guide : Mon Mar 22, 2010 10:20 am  

I think I'll have to try the International again. I just pray that "Salt Night" is a thing of the past.

Re: Red Amber & Black Curry Guide : Mon Mar 22, 2010 12:06 pm  

smiffythebull wrote:

Went for the ultimate whitey curry a couple of weeks back for the wifes bithday, went with friends who frequent Akbars on Leeds road and persuaded us to go there..so thought it best we book a table as their was 5 of us...table booked for 7pm on a thursday.....never again.....arrived at 6:45pm and was ushered to a small corner at the side of the bar..table finally ready and we sat down at 7:25pm....took the order pretty quicky but after 40 mins waiting, pulled the waiter to find out where the starters were hiding..he rushed off and returned with another waiter who appologised and revealed one of the starters had been dropped on the floor so they decided to recook and bring them all together...that old chestnut....not to bore you with the intimate details, we were in there over 2 hours with massive intervals inbetween starter and main....the owners sidekick gave us a round of free drinks after we had kicked off as a peace offering for waiting so long, but as we were driving that wasnt really appreciated...the truth was there was an asian wedding in the upstairs function room and all the waiters and chefs were concentrating on that....one other thing i must mention..the place was packed solid, and screaming kids in pushchairs were in abundance, why do parents let their kids scream in a restaurant and happily ignore them and keep on eating ?.........but the food was very nice, but the whole experience wasnt worth it and it will never be repeated, the cost was verging on unreal too...I was relieved to get in the car and drive away. 2/10.

This is not the usual Akhbars experience. They usually keep you at the bar for at least 30mins even if you have booked to enable you buy more overpriced beer. Once seated you are served pops and starters very quickly and the main comes before you have time to burp. They seem so keen to get rid of you as soon as you have finished. On my last visit I felt quite traumatised everything happend so quickly. It is not the place to visit for a relaxed meal you want to take a bit of time over. Saffrons up the road is at least as good and in my opinion better food and there is a much more relaxed atmosphere.

Re: Red Amber & Black Curry Guide : Mon Mar 22, 2010 1:00 pm  

For those of you that are prepared to travel a little there is a gem of a curry house in Heckmondwike called the Samarkand, the food, service and atmosphere definately rates high on my list, its been there 25 years and is very consistant....I live in Birstall and have been tried most curry houses in the area in the last 30+ years or so but their are only 2 i would recommend to friends..1st being the sweet centre on Lumb lane, and 2nd being the samarkand in Heckmondwike.....

Re: Red Amber & Black Curry Guide : Mon Mar 22, 2010 1:30 pm  

Praise is deserved for Tulsi on Centenary Square. The tigress went on Friday night, absolutely superb choice for a buffet (Not usually a fan) & value. It's Indian Vegetarian but don't let that put you off, there is a range of dishes you will not find in most other curry houses in Bradford.

[Bullseye]

Re: Red Amber & Black Curry Guide : Mon Mar 22, 2010 3:52 pm  

tigertot wrote:

Praise is deserved for Tulsi on Centenary Square. The tigress went on Friday night, absolutely superb choice for a buffet (Not usually a fan) & value. It's Indian Vegetarian but don't let that put you off, there is a range of dishes you will not find in most other curry houses in Bradford.

As good as Prashad?

Re: Red Amber & Black Curry Guide : Mon Mar 22, 2010 4:52 pm  

Bullseye wrote:

As good as Prashad?

Difficult to say & very different food. It's a buffet, which normally puts me off, but you can see all the diferent dishes on offer & try a bit or a lot of everything, as many times as you want. I much prefer tapas type dining when you get a good number of smaller dishes rather than a large main course that loses its appeal after a while. I'd say probably not as good quality wise but the bigger range makes up for it. I think it's about £15 for as much as you want.

Re: Red Amber & Black Curry Guide : Mon Mar 22, 2010 5:29 pm  

It pains me to say it but I had a cracking curry in Leeds the other day. That was a Gujerati veggie place called Hansas on North Street, off Vicar Lane. Worth it just for the home made chutneys and dips to be honest, they were gorgeous.

I have a nagging feeling they used to be at the bottom of Great Horton Road on that same block where Omar's is. I'm claiming them for Bradford anyway cos, in the face of all evidence, I trust my instincts and because it was of Bradford quality.

Re: Red Amber & Black Curry Guide : Mon Mar 22, 2010 8:47 pm  

Yes Hansas used to be in Bradford. I went there with my parents once. It was quality then too.

Re: Red Amber & Black Curry Guide : Tue Mar 23, 2010 12:01 am  

If that was Hansas, what was the questions?