I finally broke my duck Wednesday and took my good lady to Adil's. There was one other couple who were just paying their bill and then it was just the two of us and the guy sat behind the counter eating his supper.
Okay, granted it was midweek but nevertheless thought it being this quiet wasn't really a positive sign. Anyway still full of hope and expectation we proceeded to order. We both had onion bhajis to start. I was very surprised that they were not round balls like most takeaways but actually perfectly circular flat patties. I really enjoyed those. They were perfectly spiced and I couldn't decide whether it was gram flour or potato in them or indeed a mixture of the two but again, very agreeable they were.
For main I had the chicken and mushroom balti, the missus had the chicken and prawn balti, pilau rice and a medium garlic naan to share.
I was looking forward to this bit as I had never had a 'proper' balti so was very excited when they came out. First impression was the colour. A lot deeper red than a 'TA' balti as if to suggest tomato puree. Secondly the strangely uniform 'strands' of dark meat rather than chunks of breast which I then recalled reading about earlier on in the thread. Never had this before at a restaurant but I enjoyed it all the same. Then for the first taste. I tore a piece of naan which by the way I thought was like biting into a crispy cloud it was so light. (Yes I am aware I'm beginning to sound like a dodgey Guardian food critic but it was superb and by far the best I'd ever had!) Then for the curry itself. A tad on the salty side and yes 'different' to anything else I'd been sold as a balti. It had a flavour in the background that I knew but couldn't put my finger on. Maybe ajwain, maybe not. Apart from that I didn't really analyze it too much. All I can honestly say was that it was a nice curry but not the best I'd ever had. I am probably a curry philistine to say this but I thought my local TA's offering was more to my taste with richer, more complex flavours going on which is made even worse by the fact they could well be using Patak's! My other half kept telling me that my curry made from the Kushi book was a lot tastier and I had to agree.
Anyway, I payed the bill and the guy brought us a questionaire which we filled in. He said his gaffer had given him a target of getting 30 filled in but he still had a lot left which went to show how quiet they had been. Anyway, we had a nose up the Ladypool Road for a bit then headed home.
It was a shame the experience wasn't amazing but being the optimist that I am I'll just try somewhere else in the triangle next time. I think next stop Al Frash and then maybe Kushi but I am put off going there after Goncarlo's write up. Might try the Khyber though at some point.
Mike
