Restaurants and stuff

Haha, plenty. Beans on toast usually.

 

I wrote this a couple of years ago but missed plenty of others such as the Shipley spots folk keep mentioning, so need to revisit I think.

A Bradford Curry Guide

 

Just shows that curry wise (if nothing else), we are spoiled for choice. As you say you could add so many to the list

 

And the disagreements on where's "the best" make for great pub conversation.

 

I think most Bratfud curries are a pile of cack & a bit of a con. I've been eating them for 30+ years and still couldn't tell you what a good or a bad one was! I think my good or bad impressions come from the level of cleanliness and decor as the curries taste just the same....blah..so International = bad, Shipley Shimla = good, but they serve a purpose after beer, just like a MaccyD. And as KK points out, multiple places should really be closed down such is the lack of hygiene.

I don't lump in Bhajis & Beer at Greengates with the general Bratfud curry gruel, l can actually taste various flavours there.

Ahem, Rajpoot.....has some bizarre & funny TA reviews. You can't take alcohol in & the lighting from the overly large central fitting is too harsh. I've been when the Shimla has been too busy, it's always quiet....l passed it about 9pm on Friday night & noticed it was totally empty, food is consistent IMO, blah.

Am on a post Xmas diet so am not eating out till Feb, am also on the wagon but not for long as I've discovered coffee in Leeds is more expensive than beer......

 

Isn't International reopening? When I go past it looks like there's a refurb going on but they're certainly not rushing.

 

Yes agree with most of that. A lot of the "traditional" Bradford curry houses don't seem to have realised that the world has moved on and people expect more. With regards to the Rajpoot, it is in my opinion a better than average post beer curry house. You are quite right that it is usually quiet at 9pm, but is rammed by 11.30. Does anyone remember the Almanzil in Shipley?

 

Kiplings at greengates is my favourite curry place.

 

Where was that? Name rings a bell....another place that always looks dead to me in Shipley is the Adaab I've yet to see one customer in there! As for the Shama, hello 1975, no idea how they keep going unless they are waiting for formica to return to fashion.

 

It was in the same parade as Henry Smiths. Proper 8 pint curry!

 

I'm a big Shimla Spice fan - If i was picking my favourite, I'd say that, but I tend to frequent Rajpoot more often as its cheaper, and the food is good.

been to shama I think twice, and distinctly unimpressed. terrible fodder last time.

 

Curry is just fast food now, the days of a decent curry in Bradford have all but gone.

 

About the only decent place left. Went to
akbars before Christmas and it was bang average fayre.

 

Really?
I've been eating curries in Bradford since 1980 and I don't think they've got worse than they used to be. In my experience the range of curries offered and the hygiene standards are way better than they were in the 80s.

I think Shimla Spice is very good and, for a cheap curry when I'm not bothered about decor, the Karachi still hits the spot every time.

Depends what you want, I suppose. Most times I want a meat and spinach karahi and two chapattis and an onion bhaji starter. What I don't want is to pay fancy restaurant prices for the same food just to finance smarter wallpaper & tablecloths and a posh khazi.

 

I probably haven’t made myself clear, i agree with your last paragraph entirely. And to me a lot of those very curry houses have gone. I used to like Akbars years ago but now feels like mass produced. As How said Kiplings about the only place i go if i want a decent curry.

 

Love a bit of curry chat.

We're heading to London in March & to offset the second night blowout we're going to give a cheap (& BYOB) Whitechapel curry joint a go on the first.

 

Try the Shalamar, on the corner of Fieldgate St and New Road. Cheap as chips but really good scoff. Like an old school Bradford curry house - Formica tables etc.

 

Lahori Gate, up Manchester Road was a decent curry the last time I had a curry in Bradford. Top end of being reasonably priced, but the food and service was good.

 

We used to go when Akbars was just 1 shop and then it kept getting bigger and bigger and has lost that touch. I agree with you that it's no longer a 'proper' curry house but more kind of chain style restaurant now.

Kiplings is great, staff, food and atmosphere make the place.