Christmas Eve, a group of us went on a local pub crawl. We ended up in the local BIR. We were the last ones in as the restaurant closed at 11 o.clock. I never really noticed the music or surroundings until after the meal, when one of our party asked the waiter if he had any "Christmas" music (as we were listening to Robbie Williams). Then it all came flooding back! I remember a time in the mid 70`s, when we had nights out and called in at the local BIR. A traditional Indian restaurant, with all the trimmings. With Indian music playing in the background, candlelit tables and red flock wallpaper. To me, all this made the evening special, "a taste of India" if you like.

Is it me, or is it more than just a good curry? Anyone else prefer the days when BIR`s had atmosphere rather than the "contemporary" style we have now?...mike.

Quote from: mike travis on January 01, 2008, 10:25 PM
Is it me, or is it more than just a good curry? Anyone else prefer the days when BIR`s had atmosphere rather than the "contemporary" style we have now?...mike

Mike

I agree with you - indian music is almost essential. I have a Robbie Williams CD but if I ever heard that music played in a BIR, I would either walk out, or not go back. In a sort of positive racial discrimination approach, I wouldn't like non Indian looking staff, either.

Regards
George

Quote from: George on January 02, 2008, 12:17 AM
...I wouldn't like non Indian looking staff, either.

Isn't that weird. I actually object to the fact that there are so few non-indian/bangladeshi/pakistani employees in curry houses, and yet I agree with you that it would just seem somehow unauthentic if there were white faces serving me.

It is a tough one indeed! Firstly, I go to Indian Restaurants to purchase British Indian food, if you could call it that. If they presented me with authentic Indian food, I would be disappointed and annoyed.
Then, I expect to hear genuine Indian music and see genuine Indian interior decoration. To put the icing on the cake, I prefer to be surrounded by an all Indian staff. It seems ridiculous!
That said, would anyone want to come to "Bobby Bhuna's BIR", genuine British Indian cuisine served by pasty Scots with Artex on the walls and Sidney Divine playing in the background?

......... and dont forget those authentic elephant paintings on every wall! ;D

I assume that most Indian Restaurant owners are likely to be Hindu? I ask because I'm genuinely curious.

Quote from: Bobby Bhuna on January 02, 2008, 05:23 PM
I assume that most Indian Restaurant owners are likely to be Hindu? I ask because I'm genuinely curious.

Hi Bobby

Most that I know are of the Muslim religion. I think the majority of Indian/Pakistani restaurants and takeaways in UK are Muslim (rather than Hindu).

However, another favourite of mine is a Karalean restaurant and the manager and chefs are Roman Catholics (I believe Karala has a high percentage of RC).

Regards
SnS

That's odd. I always thought that India was mostly Hindu and Pakistan was mostly Muslim... Why then isn't this proportionately represented by the Indian restaurant owners?

Quote from: Bobby Bhuna on January 02, 2008, 08:10 PM
That's odd. I always thought that India was mostly Hindu and Pakistan was mostly Muslim... Why then isn't this proportionately represented by the Indian restaurant owners?

Because the Pakistanis tend to be in the majority of immigrants to this country from the Indian Subcontinent, therefore make up the majority of 'Indian Restaurants'.
As a national trait they also seem to be more entrepreneurial than the Hindus.
There are also a lot of Sikhs in this country, anyone seen a Sikh restaurant? or even a Parsi one?. Personally, I think it's just a matter of numbers and the law of averages ...Discuss.

I talked to the Muslim shop keeper near my house and he said that Pakistanis tend to buy shops and Indians tend to open restaurants...