Garden of Gulab

Sector: Wokingham Road
Stardate: Thursday 16 March 2000
Event: Rich Dixon passing his viva
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AMBIANCE

The classic Reading curry experience

Decor: Cosy and pleasant with crescent-moon light fittings.
Music: Semi-authentic twangy sounds that make the perfect accompaniment to a good curry. For four years they had played the same CD but we think it has changed now. Shame.

SERVICE

Good

Time to get served: 25 minutes.
Favourite menu description: "Most thrilling chilled!" (on Kingfisher).

All very friendly, head waiter particularly helpful and knowledgeable.

STARTERS

Popadums and Chutneys: Good. Choice of five chutneys.
Lime pickle: "Potent and moist", big lumps of lime.
Onion bagees (Ł1.85): Three but not very big and not the greatest taste. A bit starchy inside. Microwaved?

MAIN COURSES

Exceptionally good chicken, Veg Dansak also a classic

Chicken Tikka Masala: Succulent, obviously charred before as it should be, "Fantastic, knocks two shades of s*** out of Devanna chicken" (R. Dixon).
Chicken Dupiaza: "10/10 compared with 3/10 at Sardar" (Holden).
Chicken Pasanda: "Gorgeous, but too much corriander."
Garlic Chicken: Medium hot, "lovely and tender".
King Prawn Vindaloo: Not very hot, OK though, perhaps a bit greasy.
Vegetable Dansak (Ł3.50): "Not too sweet, not too savoury - just right (except lentils a bit overcooked)".

Praise also for garlic bread (very garlicy), Vegetable Rogan, and "****ing hot chilli".
"Ten out of ten (hic)" - Lunt.
Chapattis and plain naan a bit doughy, peshwari naan a bit too sweet.

MISCELLANEOUS

Buffet option

Egg-fried rice

Liqueur coffees

Hot towels

Sweets with bill

Key: Yes No Too drunk to remember

Women get a rose at the end of the meal. Admittedly it's a completely odourless rose that dies within two days, but a nice touch nonetheless. Several indignant men in the group wanted one as well.
Yummy chocolate mints with the bill.

FINAL VERDICT

The best chicken dishes on the planet, the cook is a genius. For providing consistantly good curry on a regular basis (and indeed being a second home for many of us), the Garden of Gulab is awarded 5 Cobras and a big flaming Ring Stinger Award:

7 October 2001 Several people have questioned whether the Gulab really merits 5 Cobras. I should stress that the grade is awarded based on our experience on a single evening, and this assessment was performed in March 2000 before the Gulab fell into the hands of its `New Management'.

29 October 2001 A more recent review is available.