Topic: Cooking lessons at Zaman Restaurant, Datchet Berks

[natterjak]

Following DalPuri's posting of the YouTube video of lessons being held at Zaman restaurant in Datchet I took a trip down there tonight. Strange to say they're almost on my doorstep but I didn't even know that place was there and I've been eating at other restaurants in this area for years. 

It's a large and modern BIR. No flock wall paper here, just chic modern decor and a large open plan seating area with space for maybe 50 or 60 customers.  Even as an early diner arriving at 17:45 I was not the first, 4 other tables were taken.  Service was spot on, efficient and friendly.

I skipped a starter but had a couple of poppadoms and pickles which were also served with complimentary mini onion bhajis ( 8 or 9 thumbnail sized little bhajis and red dip - delicious!). For main I had chicken tikka chilli masala and pilau rice, Bombay aloo and a huge fluffy naan bread. The chilli masala was tasty and creamy which surprised me but apparently they make it with yoghurt. I thought I was too mild until I tasted one of the green finger chillies which were truly eyewateringly hot! Way hotter than the chillis I've been able to source from anywhere. Mind you, I like an eye watering curry so that was fun  ;D Pilau rice was good quality and a large portion with saffron garnish. Having only eaten there once it's too soon to start declaring that it's the best I've ever eaten but it's certainly what I would call a "high class" BIR where standards are high.  Would I recommend it as a place to eat - yes for sure. And that's important because the point of this thread is they do lessons!!

I got chatting to Wahid Zaman, the owner. He was visibly delighted and maybe a little amazed that someone had found his restaurant from the YouTube video. He's planning to run lessons every 6 weeks or so and would love to have me and my curry cooking friends come along    In the interests of fairness I suggested to him that his pricing on lessons might be a bit too low (

[George]

natterjack - thank you for interesting feedback. Do you recall, though, how I was ridiculed for asking if the ?60 charge at Fleet was in total or per head?

[curryhell]

Chris, well done for checking this out.  Keep me posted.  Count me in

[jb]

Count me in!!

[solarsplace]

Hi

Please count me in too!

Thanks

[Ramirez]

Please count me in for this also! Sounds like incredible value for money.

Nice one natterjack. 

[chriswg]

It would be rude of me not to come. Count me it too.

[natterjak]

There's clearly plenty of interest.  I'll see if I can get back there some time in the next week and see what Wahid has to say. I suspect by the time 6 weeks elapse we could over subscribe this lesson by 2:1. He'll also doubtless have other people interested.

Watch this space 

[natterjak]

By the way, if anyone fancies checking the place out and wants join me dining there some time let me know.

[natterjak]

I was back at Zaman tonight - sadly Wahid the owner is away on holiday but I refreshed my acquaintance with some of the staff and told them I have 6 candidates for lessons (me + 5). Dates are looking like either late June or more likely July and I'll need to speak with Wahid when he's back next week to see if they can accommodate all 6 (since they also have some others signed up).