We ordered from Leeds’ ‘best curry house’ but it was revolting
I was expecting greatness, a real delicacy to be gracing my plate – but instead I was served up a soggy mess.
I had real high hopes for my meal from Roundhay’s branch of Bengal Brasserie after chain was collectively voted best curry house[1] in the city by Leeds Live readers. They have four restaurants across Leeds and another in York.
But I could barely get through what was truly a horrific meal. And I say this with real regret as I’d dined at their Burley branch last year and really enjoyed my food. The grub was delicious and the staff were delightful. I gave the restaurant a deserved four-stars[2].
This meal we ordered from the Roundhay Road[4] branch was simply awful. I felt so disappointed and I could barely stomach it. I spoke their branch manager about the issues, he admitted sometimes these things just "happen" and has said they will consider changing how they package some of their dishes.
I'd ordered the Bengal Combo. It's technically for two people but I was up for the challenge. It sounded really divine on the menu. It consisted of chicken tikka, onion bhaji, lamb chop, prawn chotpati and paneer pakora.
Bengal Combo from Bengal Brasserie, Roundhay, after it was pried apart (Image: Samuel Port)
It came in this foil bag and the food had clearly 'sweated' together to the extent it was all just so soggy. All the food had congealed together, I had to pry each item apart.
I had a few bites, but it honestly made me heave and I couldn’t finish it.
The expectation is that the food will be in a good state when it’s delivered. I’ve ordered from plenty of Indian takeaways where the starters, onion bhajis and tikkas etc, have been packaged in a carton and have arrived perfectly crisp and in a good state to eat. This stuff was just just tossed in together without a care.
Lamb Tikka Shashlik from Bengal Brasserie, Roundhay (Image: Samuel Port)
The onion garlic naan was cold. I was expecting a voluptuous spongey fresh bread but that wasn't to be. The egg pilau was rice was satisfactory, nothing special.
I’d ordered the lamb tikka shashlik for my main course. Again, it was cold and thoroughly unenjoyable to eat, lacking any flavour.
Bengal Brasserie's Response
Egg Pillau Rice from Bengal Brasserie, Roundhay (Image: Samuel Port)
I spoke to one of the branch’s managers Shaien Akhtar, who’s managed the restaurant for two years.
Shaiensaid: “There could be a lot of issues. These things happen in restaurants, you do have bad day. I’ve had bad meals in restaurants, it’s something that happens. Unfortunately it was probably just a bad day for the chefs and a bad day for you.”
Garlic Naan from Bengal Brasserie, Roundhay (Image: Samuel Port)
He went on: “With the combo, the reason we pack in the bag is because our containers are a bit small. We’d have to put in two large containers and sometimes you have problems with the drivers mixing them up.”
Shaien added he would consider changing how they serve the starter dish following my feedback, and perhaps acquire some larger containers.
He also spoke about the issue of ordering from apps, adding: “Sometimes when you order through these apps, the drivers are very careless and they just smash it in the bag and they’re not really bothered. They’re just bothered about delivering it on time. And the drivers, they take two or three deliveries at a time and probably had it in the bag for half an hour, forty minutes, an hour, in terms of why it is cold. We make it fresh and everything is ready for the driver to collect.”
The bill
- Egg Pillau Rice - £3.25
- Garlic Naan - £3.25
- Bengal Combo - £10.50
- Mint Sauce - £0.50
- Lamb Tikka Shashlik - £11.50
- Total (including service fee) - £30.55
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References
- ^ voted best curry house (www.leeds-live.co.uk)
- ^ deserved four-stars (www.leeds-live.co.uk)
- ^ We tried new Leeds Indian restaurant serving exotic dishes with a touch of class (www.leeds-live.co.uk)
- ^ Roundhay Road (www.leeds-live.co.uk)
- ^ Best in Leeds homepage (www.leeds-live.co.uk)
- ^ things to do in Leeds (www.leeds-live.co.uk)
- ^ here (www.leeds-live.co.uk)
- ^ sign up here to get it direct to your inbox (data.reachplc.com)