Topic: BIRs in York / Leeds

[Stephen Lindsay]

I'm spending a couple of days in York at the beginning of July with my daughter but staying at a Travelodge near Leeds. Can anyone recommend a decent BIR in this area?

[DeadBeat]

By far the best BIR in York (in my humble opinion obviously) is Saffron Desi on Micklegate.
Leeds? I wouldn't touch any of them with a bargepole knowing what I know.

[Stephen Lindsay]

DeabBeat - thanks for the reply. I am hoping to have a weekend in York in the Autumn and will check this out - there's a Travelodge in Micklegate so that would be very handy! We did acutually have lunch in a Chinese restaurant (Zen) near Micklegate. The place was full of Chinese people and when I tasted the food I could understand why as it was really good.

[curryhell]

I wouldn't touch any of them with a bargepole knowing what I know.

Are you going to share this Deadbeat? 

[acrabat]

I visited Saffron Desi a few weeks ago while on holiday and have to say it was without doubt the worst Indian Resteraunt I have ever been in. We ordered a madras, special makhani a tikka masala and another i cant remember the name of. for mains and starters of tikka, poppadoms and pakora. The starters were very good, tasty and well presented. The mains were a different story. To start with two of the mains ordered with lamb were served with chicken. We pointed this out and they were taken away to be returned two minutes later containing lamb. None of the meals were very warm. The madras was so so, the special makhani was disgusting it tasted of carnation milk, the tikka masala was not as nice as tescos and the other was bland. As disappointing as the meals were it was the service that was the biggest let down, very poor waiting staff, dirty glasses, a jug of warn water with no ice, stained plates, indifferent response from the management when we pointed out some of these things. To top it off their knives could not be places on the plates without falling into the food due to their funny shape. I can presume they were having an off day as the experience was my worst ever by far in any kind of eaterie.

[Peripatetic Phil]

To top it off their knives could not be places on the plates without falling into the food due to their funny shape.

That, sadly, is an ever-increasing phenomenon as restaurateurs put appearance before ergonomics.  When I buy cutlery for home use, how it feels and how it handles comes foremost :  whether it shrieks "designer" from every hard-edged corner and crazy shape is the last thing on my mind ...

** Phil.

[rikki tikki tavi]

There used to be one on Micklegate that I used to go in as a PGCE student, I think it's shut now but it was good.  They used to do a lot of Afghan dishes (tuna bacchau or something, very nice).

I once saw a girl flash her boobs in there    (really!) which was a bonus....

[timeless]

Had a curry in Leeds a few weeks back at Akbar's couldn't fault it

[Alchemist]

Although I've yet to go, the Aargrah Midpoint at Pudsey just outside of Leeds is well regarded.  It's won regional curry awards and friends who have had weddings and meals there think its top notch.