Curry Mile - Recommendations?
Discussion
Evening all,
Our student house is only a couple of minutes away from Manchester's Curry Mile. Indian food also happens to be my favourite. However, we've tried at least six or seven different restaurants down the mile, and I've been thoroughly underwhelmed.
From what I can remember, we've tried Al Bilal, Al Nawaz, Hannan, Sanam, Sangam and Shere Kahn. Now, none of them have been bad, but I've yet to come away from any of them and think "that was a quality curry". So far, none of them have beaten or even come close to my local curry house, back home in Hertfordshire.
The meat seems low quality, the portions tiny and the sauces quite dull. What are we doing wrong? Is it because they always offer us the student discount - do you get a lower quality meal when this is offered? Even the 'Chef's Specials' seem quite boring.
Any recommendations as to the best restaurant on the mile, or particular dish recommendations? I like relatively hot dishes and will give any non-fish based dish a try. Madras/Vindaloo sort of heat level.
Over to the collective knowledge of PH to satisfy my curry cravings....
Cheers.
Our student house is only a couple of minutes away from Manchester's Curry Mile. Indian food also happens to be my favourite. However, we've tried at least six or seven different restaurants down the mile, and I've been thoroughly underwhelmed.
From what I can remember, we've tried Al Bilal, Al Nawaz, Hannan, Sanam, Sangam and Shere Kahn. Now, none of them have been bad, but I've yet to come away from any of them and think "that was a quality curry". So far, none of them have beaten or even come close to my local curry house, back home in Hertfordshire.
The meat seems low quality, the portions tiny and the sauces quite dull. What are we doing wrong? Is it because they always offer us the student discount - do you get a lower quality meal when this is offered? Even the 'Chef's Specials' seem quite boring.
Any recommendations as to the best restaurant on the mile, or particular dish recommendations? I like relatively hot dishes and will give any non-fish based dish a try. Madras/Vindaloo sort of heat level.
Over to the collective knowledge of PH to satisfy my curry cravings....
Cheers.
If it's anything like Brick Lane in London, they do so much trade there with tourists etc that they don't need to rely on repeat business. So the quality suffers. There are usually one or two places that are genuinely good though, just a case of finding them amongst the crap places.
Student discount shouldn't affect anything except maybe portion size. The quality should be the same, as it would be a false economy to make two different quality dishes for each item.
Student discount shouldn't affect anything except maybe portion size. The quality should be the same, as it would be a false economy to make two different quality dishes for each item.
calibrax said:
If it's anything like Brick Lane in London, they do so much trade there with tourists etc that they don't need to rely on repeat business. So the quality suffers. There are usually one or two places that are genuinely good though, just a case of finding them amongst the crap places.
Student discount shouldn't affect anything except maybe portion size. The quality should be the same, as it would be a false economy to make two different quality dishes for each item.
I imagine you're right - they could probably fill the place each night even with zero repeat business. That said, I've been to Brick Lane before and it seemed much better than the Curry Mile.Student discount shouldn't affect anything except maybe portion size. The quality should be the same, as it would be a false economy to make two different quality dishes for each item.
I'm sure there's one yet-to-be-discovered gem somewhere on the mile though, and I hope some PHer can point us in the right direction.
As for the student discount, you're probably right about the quality being just the same. But, I'm sure the portions must be smaller than regular portions - sometimes it arrives and you just think "Is that it?!"
Problem is all the places we've tried have all been very similar and very uninspired. In my more paranoid moments, I do wonder if they don't just have a giant centralised kitchen on each side of the road and then send the dish to the appropriate restaurant using an elaborate system of conveyor belts.
you've only tried 6 or 7 since september -tsk tsk! you should be halfway through them all by now!
the mile has a place - cheap tastyness and a BYOB policy ensure this. to be fair the standard of curry is great for the price you pay.
places change hands all the time but the ones you mention have been there for 10yrs+ now so worth a look.
my 'go to' is lal quila as they are open until 4am and the food is good. if shandaar is still there then give that a try too. there is one other good one but i can't remember the name. the key is to find one you like, treat it like a local and make friends with the waiters.
for an upmarket indian, try shimla pinks on bridge street in town.
also, if you haven't been to this 'n' that for rice and three then you are missing a treat.
the mile has a place - cheap tastyness and a BYOB policy ensure this. to be fair the standard of curry is great for the price you pay.
places change hands all the time but the ones you mention have been there for 10yrs+ now so worth a look.
my 'go to' is lal quila as they are open until 4am and the food is good. if shandaar is still there then give that a try too. there is one other good one but i can't remember the name. the key is to find one you like, treat it like a local and make friends with the waiters.
for an upmarket indian, try shimla pinks on bridge street in town.
also, if you haven't been to this 'n' that for rice and three then you are missing a treat.
Highly recommended. Fabulous food and superb staff. My "local" eaty place. 
wiffmaster said:
Evening all,
Our student house is only a couple of minutes away from Manchester's Curry Mile. Indian food also happens to be my favourite. However, we've tried at least six or seven different restaurants down the mile, and I've been thoroughly underwhelmed.
From what I can remember, we've tried Al Bilal, Al Nawaz, Hannan, Sanam, Sangam and Shere Kahn. Now, none of them have been bad, but I've yet to come away from any of them and think "that was a quality curry". So far, none of them have beaten or even come close to my local curry house, back home in Hertfordshire.
The meat seems low quality, the portions tiny and the sauces quite dull. What are we doing wrong? Is it because they always offer us the student discount - do you get a lower quality meal when this is offered? Even the 'Chef's Specials' seem quite boring.
Any recommendations as to the best restaurant on the mile, or particular dish recommendations? I like relatively hot dishes and will give any non-fish based dish a try. Madras/Vindaloo sort of heat level.
Over to the collective knowledge of PH to satisfy my curry cravings....
Cheers.
Lal Qila is good on the curry mile, but frankly the best one is in town now, ie Akbars on Liverpool street, just round the corner from where I live. Oh and Darbar is ok.Our student house is only a couple of minutes away from Manchester's Curry Mile. Indian food also happens to be my favourite. However, we've tried at least six or seven different restaurants down the mile, and I've been thoroughly underwhelmed.
From what I can remember, we've tried Al Bilal, Al Nawaz, Hannan, Sanam, Sangam and Shere Kahn. Now, none of them have been bad, but I've yet to come away from any of them and think "that was a quality curry". So far, none of them have beaten or even come close to my local curry house, back home in Hertfordshire.
The meat seems low quality, the portions tiny and the sauces quite dull. What are we doing wrong? Is it because they always offer us the student discount - do you get a lower quality meal when this is offered? Even the 'Chef's Specials' seem quite boring.
Any recommendations as to the best restaurant on the mile, or particular dish recommendations? I like relatively hot dishes and will give any non-fish based dish a try. Madras/Vindaloo sort of heat level.
Over to the collective knowledge of PH to satisfy my curry cravings....
Cheers.
Thanks for the tips everyone.
La Qila has popped up in two recommendation, so that's looking like a good bet. I must admit that whenever I walked passed that place, I assumed from the name and sign that it was a Mexican. That'll teach me not to look properly. I feel guilty about the fact that we've only been to 6 or 7 places in the last two years. Were it up to me, we'd go to a different curry house each Friday. Sadly, not all of my friends share my level of curry addiction. However, Abdul's the kebab shop knows us all very well!
Will also try and persuade people to try the places slightly further afield which have been recommended.
Cheers all.
La Qila has popped up in two recommendation, so that's looking like a good bet. I must admit that whenever I walked passed that place, I assumed from the name and sign that it was a Mexican. That'll teach me not to look properly. I feel guilty about the fact that we've only been to 6 or 7 places in the last two years. Were it up to me, we'd go to a different curry house each Friday. Sadly, not all of my friends share my level of curry addiction. However, Abdul's the kebab shop knows us all very well!
Will also try and persuade people to try the places slightly further afield which have been recommended.
Cheers all.
Edited by wiffmaster on Tuesday 17th November 16:03
shirt said:
you must be a 1st/2nd year if still on abduls. you'll progress to saajan soon then on the long kebabby path to the nirvana that is hunters.
Technically I should be in third year, but missed a couple of second year exams due to operations and am now recovering and taking a year out before third year, next year. We've tried plenty of kebab places, and still come back to the 'Duls. Soon learnt to avoid the likes of Kebab King and Kashmiri Spice. Saajan was very nice as well in fairness, but have yet to try Hunters (which I will now aim to rectify).
wiffmaster said:
shirt said:
you must be a 1st/2nd year if still on abduls. you'll progress to saajan soon then on the long kebabby path to the nirvana that is hunters.
Technically I should be in third year, but missed a couple of second year exams due to operations and am now recovering and taking a year out before third year, next year. We've tried plenty of kebab places, and still come back to the 'Duls. Soon learnt to avoid the likes of Kebab King and Kashmiri Spice. Saajan was very nice as well in fairness, but have yet to try Hunters (which I will now aim to rectify).shirt said:
btw - is that chinese place the one behind the high st? if so i agree, best salt & pepper chicken wings i've ever tasted.
It's on Copperas Street.Sweet Mandarin
Best kebab is a double kobeda from the rusholme chippy.I still go there, 23 years after my first visit!! Abduls is OK but hit and miss ("wildlife"/undercooked)
Great Katmandu on Burton Road do a great curry.
Monsoon on Oxford Road was OK, but is long gone after that crane collapsed on it.
The service is Akbars has been piss poor everytime I've been. The one to the left was much better and very good food too.
The last time I went to Shimla Pinks it was filthy and looking very run down.
Great Katmandu on Burton Road do a great curry.
Monsoon on Oxford Road was OK, but is long gone after that crane collapsed on it.
The service is Akbars has been piss poor everytime I've been. The one to the left was much better and very good food too.
The last time I went to Shimla Pinks it was filthy and looking very run down.
shirt said:
also, if you haven't been to this 'n' that for rice and three then you are missing a treat.
Out of all the curry houses in Manchester that I miss many years after leaving, this 'n' that is definitely one of them. Used to go there weekly (at least).(That and the hot sauce on top of a mixed kebab with massive Bhajis from Camel One (where it was always hotter out when the students weren't around!)
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