Curry - Manchester city centre?

[parapaul]

I used to live in Manchester, and could name most of the establishments down the 'curry mile' in Rusholme, along with their chef's specials and any offers they happened to have on

I've been away for nearly nearly 10 years now, but am planning to go back up for my stag do in April, part of which is the obligatory curry.

Can anyone recommend somewhere that's good now? Shere Khan used to be the canine's cajunas, but it seems to have had a lot of poor reviews recently... Being a stag do we're not looking for Michelin star quality or poncey 'nouveau cuisine' size portions - just good food, sensible portions and sensible price.

TIA

[Gaffer]

Akbars just off Deansgate. Do book though..!

Claire

[968]

Lal Qila and Khan Baba are also good and are just on deansgate, near Liverpool road....a few yards away from my gaff!!

[amir_j]

Shere khan is still good as go regularly, not a stag party suited atmosphere though so other diners may not appreciate

in city centre see akbar which us good and well priced, eastizeast and the new boy In town Zouk

Edited by amir_j on Tuesday 16th February 07:45

[AB]

Gaffer said:

Akbars just off Deansgate. Do book though..!

Claire

Liverpool Road IIRC.

But I wouldn't bother, huge and impersonal. I never did like it.

[968]

AB said:

Gaffer said:

Akbars just off Deansgate. Do book though..!

Claire

Liverpool Road IIRC.

But I wouldn't bother, huge and impersonal. I never did like it.

I would. Food is good, though it is certainly busy.

[Nolar Dog]

Shimla Pinks just off Bridge Street.

[escargot]

Nolar Dog said:

Shimla Pinks just off Bridge Street.

I didn't know they had a place in Manchester. Only ever been to the one in Brum and it was very very good.

[amir_j]

escargot said:

Nolar Dog said:

Shimla Pinks just off Bridge Street.

I didn't know they had a place in Manchester. Only ever been to the one in Brum and it was very very good.

They have 2, one on wilmslow road aka the curry mile, and another in city centre

[Maty]

Took the missus here a few weeks ago;

http://www.zoukteabar.co.uk/zouk-manchester.php

One of the best curries I have had in a long time, and not expensive either!

[Pferdestarke]

Went for a meal to Akbar's with my boss. The cocky waiter threw rose petals over the table cloth as he seated us which set the scene just nicely. Not.

Reasonable food, too busy, chavvy, can't put drinks on your table at the bar and they operate a ludicrous pager system meaning you can't book for less than 4 people or something.

[escargot]

amir_j said:

escargot said:

Nolar Dog said:

Shimla Pinks just off Bridge Street.

I didn't know they had a place in Manchester. Only ever been to the one in Brum and it was very very good.

They have 2, one on wilmslow road aka the curry mile, and another in city centre

Blimey, shows how long it's been since I last went for a curry in town.

[parapaul]

Thanks for the suggestions - Can't find many reviews of Shimla Pinks at all, is it worth a gamble? Especially since we're at the Comedy Store a little further down Deansgate for the evening, that would be ideal!

Akbars seems to get a lot of terrible reviews - all along the same lines. Efficient service, but greasy, bland, tasteless food which doesn't fill me with confidence, and the no booking system just seals its fate.

Has anyone tried the Shimla Pinks on the Wilmslow Road? We'll be heading that way back out of town, so it would be equally convenient

[968]

parapaul said:

Thanks for the suggestions - Can't find many reviews of Shimla Pinks at all, is it worth a gamble? Especially since we're at the Comedy Store a little further down Deansgate for the evening, that would be ideal!

Akbars seems to get a lot of terrible reviews - all along the same lines. Efficient service, but greasy, bland, tasteless food which doesn't fill me with confidence, and the no booking system just seals its fate.

Has anyone tried the Shimla Pinks on the Wilmslow Road? We'll be heading that way back out of town, so it would be equally convenient

The Akbars comments are nonsense. The food is pretty good, better than Shimla Pinks and Sangam, when I went. It is busy there so if you're bothered by that, go to Lal Qila on Deansgate which is just on Deansgate.

[Pferdestarke]

968 said:

The Akbars comments are nonsense. The food is pretty good, better than Shimla Pinks and Sangam, when I went. It is busy there so if you're bothered by that, go to Lal Qila on Deansgate which is just on Deansgate.

I'm sure the negative comments are based on people's experiences at that particular restaurant. Mine are based on a very recent visit and it was far from satisfactory.

I stand by what I posted up the thread.

[amir_j]

Pferdestarke said:

Went for a meal to Akbar's with my boss. The cocky waiter threw rose petals over the table cloth as he seated us which set the scene just nicely. Not.

Reasonable food, too busy, chavvy, can't put drinks on your table at the bar and they operate a ludicrous pager system meaning you can't book for less than 4 people or something.

To address

Reasonale food- agree, not amazing but good. Love the big naan thing

too busy - yes (but thats good imo), only ever been on saturday nights, its not supposed to be a meeting or quiet romantic spot type of place

chavvy - dunno what you mean, normal people wearing normal clothes as opposed to dressed up but what do you expect, its a medium budget place- hard to find in a city centre. No tracksuit chavs the 3-4 times ive been

drinks on table - agree, should be in place if requested

pager system - love it, last thing I would want is to go there and wait for an undefined period.

summary, cheaper than eastizeast and better, Zouk if you want classier.



OP- if drinking wasnt an issue would recomnmend Nawaab, slightly out of town but perfect as large buffet place so much fun to be had piling the plates (hate it in any other occasions as clientele like pigs in the trough)

Would reccomend you head onto wilmslow and just decide on impressions where to go, pop into a shisha place too.

[968]

Pferdestarke said:

968 said:

The Akbars comments are nonsense. The food is pretty good, better than Shimla Pinks and Sangam, when I went. It is busy there so if you're bothered by that, go to Lal Qila on Deansgate which is just on Deansgate.

I'm sure the negative comments are based on people's experiences at that particular restaurant. Mine are based on a very recent visit and it was far from satisfactory.

I stand by what I posted up the thread.

Perhaps you had a bad time there, but it's my local, and is about 150 yards away from my flat, hence I've been there many times. It is too busy and on Friday/Saturday night can be too long a wait for a table, however the food is good. Of course that depends what you order, my experience is that these sort of places are much better at the grill type food, kebabs/chops/tikka, and ok for the Karahi but not so good for the 'traditional' Kormas etc, but then I'd never order those.

My main criticism of Akbars is that it's too busy and a little poncy given the nature of the place, but overall I like it. Much more so than most of the places on Wilmslow road, which serve often microwaved food. However, Akbars certainly has competition now from Lal Qila, which is very good and the right size.

[968]

amir_j said:

Pferdestarke said:

Went for a meal to Akbar's with my boss. The cocky waiter threw rose petals over the table cloth as he seated us which set the scene just nicely. Not.

Reasonable food, too busy, chavvy, can't put drinks on your table at the bar and they operate a ludicrous pager system meaning you can't book for less than 4 people or something.

To address

Reasonale food- agree, not amazing but good. Love the big naan thing

too busy - yes (but thats good imo), only ever been on saturday nights, its not supposed to be a meeting or quiet romantic spot type of place

chavvy - dunno what you mean, normal people wearing normal clothes as opposed to dressed up but what do you expect, its a medium budget place- hard to find in a city centre. No tracksuit chavs the 3-4 times ive been

drinks on table - agree, should be in place if requested

pager system - love it, last thing I would want is to go there and wait for an undefined period.

summary, cheaper than eastizeast and better, Zouk if you want classier.



OP- if drinking wasnt an issue would recomnmend Nawaab, slightly out of town but perfect as large buffet place so much fun to be had piling the plates (hate it in any other occasions as clientele like pigs in the trough)

Would reccomend you head onto wilmslow and just decide on impressions where to go, pop into a shisha place too.

Agreed though Nawaab is evil!

It's certainly cheap and the starter type food ie samosas/pakoras/kebabs/tikkas were pretty good. I didn't much like the main courses though, but it is all you can eat, and when I came out, I could've rolled down Stockport Road!!

[parapaul]

968 - thanks for those comments, TBH I'm more inclined to listen to someone who's eaten there regularly and enjoyed it, than to someone who's tried it once and didn't like it.

Still might opt for Lal Quila instead if they take ordinary bookings - especially on a saturday night, I'd rather not just roll up with a group of 10 and hope for the best.

How does the pager system at Akbars work?

[968]

parapaul said:

968 - thanks for those comments, TBH I'm more inclined to listen to someone who's eaten there regularly and enjoyed it, than to someone who's tried it once and didn't like it.

Still might opt for Lal Quila instead if they take ordinary bookings - especially on a saturday night, I'd rather not just roll up with a group of 10 and hope for the best.

How does the pager system at Akbars work?

Pager system is standard, ie they give you a pager and buzz it when your table is ready. You go off and sit in the bar area, (if you can) and wait.....Lal Qila might not be a bad idea, as Akbars is likely to be crowded. In fact, I might go this evening with my mates too.