| Indian | ||
| The Tandoori Nights | The Taj Mahal | The Indian Ocean |
| The Bengal Brasserie | Akash Tandoori | The Parvin Takeaway |
| Spice 21 | The Aagrah | |
| Lal Quilla | Bengal Brasserie Goodramgate |
A well established Indian down near the absolute eyesore that is the Viking Moat House hotel in North Street. It's pretty small inside, but nicely done up and large mirrors tend to diminish the claustrophobia of waiters and diners squeezing between the tables. Food is standard Indian fare, relatively good value for money and served quickly with a minimum of fuss. I had a Chicken Hindi (like a Rogan Josh, with mint) which was rather good. The chicken pakora was a bit stodgy though, and the nan bread was anaemic. If you're in the town centre, I'd probably recommend you order a takeaway from here and head home to eat in peace.
This is the Indian in York that I visit most often, probably because it's on the way home from the pubs. I think the food here is always well prepared, comes in good sized portions, and competes favourably with anything else I've tried in York. Yes, the phrase "value for money" springs to mind. Restaurant is divided into three small rooms and these become a bit cramped when busy. I'd recommend their balti dishes, although they don't claim this as a speciality. The Rogan Josh I tried recently was somewhat bland, but their Tikka was tasty and quite substantial. Try the Chicken Packura as a starter, just enough to put you in the mood for more.
Bengal Brasserie, White Rose Business Park
Just off the ring road on the North side of the city, part of a currently forming Retail Park, so it looks as if it's part of a currently forming retail park. It's design is "New Indian" inside - i.e. no red and gold wallpaper, but all bright and white with purple, green and yellow seats. Makes a change, I suppose. The dish I ordered, a balti I think, came in a copper bucket and needed a bit of salt. Karen's tandoori was standard stuff, but pretty good. (I've recently taken to ordering their Chicken Tikka as a main course though, with a curry sauce on the side, as it is deliciously marinated and cooked.) Friendly and attentive staff ensure you're well looked after, and full marks to the waiter who gave my little boy a free ice-cream last time we were in. We'll be back soon.
Sister restaurant to the one above (so watch out when you call for a takeaway that you choose the right one). Competeing with three Italian restaurants nearby, this is a nice option on the way home from the pub. Quite tidy inside, taking the traditional Indian decor and being somewhat dark and oppressive if you're not in the mood. Food is the usual, but the real advantage of this place is that it is the most central Indian in town if you feel the need for a curry after a few pints or a particularly mamoth winter's shop (which was the last time I visited).
Lal
Quilla, Bishopthorpe Rd, 01904 670684
The interior is painted a lovely shade of Tandoori, but the staff are nice, friendly. Unfortunately, they should pay attention to general customer needs by providing a non-smoking section. I'm no anti-smoker, but being sandwiched between two tables of four puffers while we struggled through our courses was a bit much. Their conversation, which you couldn't help but be party to in the cramped enviroment, was worse (a bunch of students loudly discussing the merits of sex three times a night. Virgins, obviously.) Food was of average standard - we'd have preferred the Tandoori Chicken to be a bit more blackened - and the Chicken Aloo I had wasn't as tasty as I'd hoped.
Overlooking the River Ouse (well, two tables next to the windows are) this restaurant looks as if it's been around for a while. Why don't they spend money on making it look a bit sprucer inside? I mean, it must be taking in the cash given its location. Perhaps it gets flooded occasionally, like the nearby Kings Arms. So it's a bit grubby, but what's the food like? Well, not unlike the River Ouse - a funny colour, runny and if you swallow too much it will make you ill. But that's not a criticism, it means it's just your average Indian meal.
Neat little restaurant which has been in Acomb for about ten years, so it must be doing something right. Definite value for money, they claim they haven't raised the prices on their takeaway menu for seven years! Personally, I found my Rogan Josh a little watery, and the next time I called by for a Tikka takeaway, it was nowhere near the quality of that served by the Bengal Brasserie on the ring road (although it was much cheaper). They do free deliveries on orders of over £12, and I could well be tempted to use this service in the near future.
I debated whether or not to include this as it's not a restaurant at all, but it was so busy when I dropped by for a Balti that I've included it on grounds of popularity alone. Good food combined with fair prices - you can't argue with it, can you? The balti was substantial, made with fresh tomato, peppers and heaps of succulent spices. The tikka starter was up there with the best of them. My biggest problem with this place will be keeping out of it.
The Aagrah, York Road, Steeton 01937 530888
Is the name full of significant Indian heritage or a pathetic attempt to get first listing in the Yellow Pages? Don't know, but if this was your first choice it wouldn't be a bad one. Situated on the A64 heading toward Tadcaster, it's big, bold and bloody good. The Aagrah restaurants have won a variety of awards but I wouldn't say the food is spectacularly better than many traditional Indians you'll find in any decent sized town. It is, however, a safe bet if your primary concern is for substantial, freshly prepared and presented curries. You won't be disappointed. Check their Website for more detail by clicking here.
It's allegedly named after a dish sold in the restaurant that contains 21 spices, but I couldn't be bothered searching the menu for it when I just wanted a plain old fashioned bhuna. Which was spot on when it came, although the korma bought for the wife and child was somewhat sickly (but aren't they all?) The interior is brightly decorated with splashes of blue, orange, yellows and green, and the only downside is that the view out the window is that of an old boarded-up Presto supermarket. Given the location - surrounded by McMillans, Merlins, Edwards - I'd hate to visit anytime near eleven o'clock at night, when the chances of stepping in Spice 21 as you left the restaurant would be pretty high.
