Curry Recipes Online
Indian Restaurant Reviews => Really Bad British Indian Restaurants => Topic started by: Razor on August 04, 2010, 02:55 PM
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Hi fellas,
Just had a week in Llandudno, pronounced "Cclandidno" they get really arsy if you don't say it right!
I went to the Bengal Dynasty Tandoori Restaurant (Bangladeshi owned) I ordered a Lamb Jal Frezi (they didn't do Lamb TIKKA Jal Frezi ???, even though they had lamb tikka on the menu)
Now this restaurant came highly recommended by the locals. On entering the place, what hit me straight away (or didn't) was the lack of BIR aroma! The curry came and much to my disappointment, they was no oil floating on the surface, and very little sauce. On my first taste, I immediately detected that the spices hadn't been cooked out. The sauce was very gritty and over spiced. The meat was tender but, I'm sure that it was lamb shank, cooked very slow and long, and just pulled off the bone and added to the sauce.
I couldn't even detect any garlic in there, and I kept asking the wife if she could smell garlic on me over the evening, and she said that she couldn't smell a thing!
When I got back to the hotel, the staff asked me how my curry was, and when I told them that it was crap, by far the worst I'd ever had, they responded by telling me that I'd gone to the wrong one!
Funny, I had a feeling that they was gonna say that somehow :-\
For the first time in my life, I couldn't finish my curry (gutted) I would go as far as to say, that even in my novice years of curry cooking, I've never made one as bad as this.
Ray :)
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OMG thats horrible Ray, i will avoid like the plague if i am ever in Wales lol
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Gaz,
You're correct mate, it was horrible. The thing that amazed me most, was it was almost a full house. And everyone seemed to be having a good time. Now they was either being too polite, or, they were too pissed up to know any difference.
Ray :)
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I went to the Bengal Dynasty Tandoori Restaurant...Now this restaurant came highly recommended by the locals....For the first time in my life, I couldn't finish my curry (gutted) I would go as far as to say, that even in my novice years of curry cooking, I've never made one as bad as this.
Ray :)
Now imagine you are one of the locals and you come to this site as a novice curry cook, try a few of the curries here and think, my god, this is great, not just as good, but better than the BIR.
Do you see how it's all relative? For me this is total vindication of my opinion that the curries on this site are nothing special. It's just a matter of what you're used to...and I'm used to better! :-\
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my opinion that the curries on this site are nothing special. It's just a matter of what you're used to...and I'm used to better! :-\
Still waiting for your recipes SS...... ::)
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Give it a rest CA it's like a broken record...do we really need all this crap in every single thread? ???
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Domi it's his stated intention to continue this harassment (to the detriment of the forum). Poor lad, still hasn't got over being kicked out as a moderator. Ironically he even complains about his posts getting deleted now. ;D
What goes round comes round. ;)
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Give it a rest CA it's like a broken record...do we really need all this crap in every single thread? ???
I'll "give it a rest" when SS (and one or two others Domi ;)) give it a rest luv ;)
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Domi it's his stated intention to continue this harassment
If you want to consider "holding you accountable for you negative and abusive comments" as "harrassment" SS, then so be it. But I don't.
Ironically he even complains about his posts getting deleted now
Bit of a stange interpretation SS. I am more than happy that ANY and ALL personally insulting and abusive comments are deleted, including any of mine. Unfortunately, for you, that means your post count would effectively diminish to zero, or thereabouts.
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SS,
It's just a matter of what you're used to...and I'm used to better!
I do agree with you on this. If the locals of Llandudno came onto this site and tried some of the recipes here, they would withoutdoubt, be over the moon, especially if the Bengal Dynasty Tandoori is anything to go by, as to what they're used to!
The one thing that did get me thinking though, the curries from yesteryear, 70's/80's were predominantly Bangladeshi, at least they were here in Manchester. The Bengal Dynasty is also Bangladeshi, but a million miles away from what I remember, taste wise.
Now, I know we have talked about regional variances, and we have also discussed the differences between Bangladeshi, Punjabi, Pakistani and so on, so this one is a real puzzler. Afterall, if the Bangladeshi BIR cuisine had it's own unique style and flavour, then surely this place should have replicated what I've experienced in the past?
Or, maybe I'm just over analysing things a bit, it's probably just a shithole getting away with charging overpriced, sub standard curries to us tourists :-\
Ray :)
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Or, maybe I'm just over analysing things a bit, it's probably just a shithole getting away with charging overpriced, sub standard curries to us tourists :-\
Ray :)
I think you've cracked it Ray.
What you have to bear in mind is that late eighties, early nineties, when in my experience the BIR experience started to go downhill, you had many new BIR startups that came into it as a cash cow, with quality and pride in their product coming a distant second. We now have the results of that greed driven expansion in the generally low quality BIRs of today.
The point I was trying to make though was that when a newbie comes to the forum, makes a curry, and declares it the best curry ever bar none, and I've made the same curry and been greatly disappointed, I no longer feel that I've cocked up the recipe, or that my taste is going, or some other equally inane reason. I now know that it's because my BIR background has been a far different, and superior experience, and your post totally vindicated my feelings.
My only regret being that, at the risk of boring you by repetition, I no longer seem to be able to find that old style curry anywhere. :'(
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My only regret being that, at the risk of boring you by repetition, I no longer seem to be able to find that old style curry anywhere. :'(
And have you even tried ONE of the recommendations you're received SS? No, of course you haven't! :-\
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SS,
I no longer seem to be able to find that old style curry anywhere.
Once again, I agree, it's just not around anymore. I do thinks the pastes have a lot to do with this, and anything that can increase the profit margin is the obvious route that the modern day BIR will take.
Every now and again, my local Jack of all trades TA, gets it right, but it's too hit and miss to rely on, and I bet he wouldn't even know what it is that he does different to achieve the taste!
Ray :)
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I do thinks the pastes have a lot to do with this, and anything that can increase the profit margin is the obvious route that the modern day BIR will take.
Ray we'll have to stop agreeing with each other or people will start talking! :-X ;D
You're absolutely right though, Pataks and other brand pastes almost certainly entered the BIR scene around the time they started to go down hill. Pastes lead to formula curries...nasty, nasty, nasty!
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With respect, Ray (by his own volition) is too young to really know if it's "just not around anymore"! :-\
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Hi CA,
With respect, Ray (by his own volition) is too young to really know if it's "just not around anymore"! :-\
I do understand what your saying here, I was 16 (1986) when I had my first BIR curry (Dhansak) but, from then on, I've eaten them regularly, probably too regularly and I for one can assure you that I noticed the change. For me, it all started to alter around 1990. I don't doubt that there would have been a significant change in the 70's style curry to the 80's style also.
What I'm saying is, the taste of an 80's style curry is not around anymore, even in the restaurants that have been under the same ownership for over 30 yrs, and there are many like that here. Pastes and different produce are the obvious culprits.
Ray :)
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We have a place in Dundee called the Balaka which has been under the same ownership for 20-30 years and may well be unique in the City for that reason. They have always produced excellent curries and after a gap of some years when I returned there 2 or 3 years ago their curries did seem different to what I remember, even though it was the same faces at the helm.
I have sometimes wondered if some places "buy in" things like base gravy, frozen, in bulk. I mean that kind of approach has happened in every other part of the restaurant business so why not Indian too?
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Hi Stephen,
I'm sure that this has been mentioned before, and if I'm not mistaken, someone actually provided a link to site where you could buy big tubs of base sauce.
Ray :)
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that doesn't surprise me Razor.
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I do understand what your saying here, I was 16 (1986) when I had my first BIR curry (Dhansak) but, from then on, I've eaten them regularly, probably too regularly and I for one can assure you that I noticed the change. For me, it all started to alter around 1990. I don't doubt that there would have been a significant change in the 70's style curry to the 80's style also.
What I'm saying is, the taste of an 80's style curry is not around anymore, even in the restaurants that have been under the same ownership for over 30 yrs, and there are many like that here. Pastes and different produce are the obvious culprits.
Ray :)
I appreciate that you're humble enough to admit that Ray. However, several BIR recommendations have been made that some of us (i.e. SS) seem to have chosen to ignore. I therefore find it hard to accept that BIR curries of the 80s cannot be found anymore.
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I'll avoid that one if I'm ever in Llandudno then!
I visited a lot of BIR's in Scotland over the past 12 months, some were good and some were a bit sub-standard really but I'm screwed if I can remember where we went as I was usually a bit pissed by the time we'd get to one..
Sounds a bit of a clich? but my local is hard to beat. But maybe that's my 'taste'?
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i think everyone would say their local is hard to beat to be honest , its all down to your own preferred taste
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I guess so, but when I first moved here, I wasn't keen on the place behind my house but now I don't eat anywhere else if I can help it! I even went to the one in the next village about 12 months ago as the head chef went off sick in my local, but it just wasn't on par ever..
Would you say that your taste adapts to the local?
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i think everyone would say their local is hard to beat to be honest , its all down to your own preferred taste
I think this remark is so true. We get our taste buds "conditioned" by our local BIR ;D. I had the same experience as TyeNoodle. I didn't like my local BIR at all at first, but as time went on it got better & better to such an extent I revisited my old favourite BIR's and they cannot compete :o
Great to see the forum back to normal after a few days of the Jeremy Kyle show ::)
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yeah i would defo say that, i think each region in the uk tastes different and i have been to many indian restaurants all over the uk .
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Thanks, not just me then... ;D
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Guy's,
I've experienced exactly the same thing.
My local was great for kebabs and samosa's and the like, but their Jal Frezi just wasn't up to scratch. I then decided to order a Madras from them, and it was the mutts nuts, really good.
Since then, I've had Bhuna's, Dhansaks, Dupiaza's, Vindaloos, and everyone of them was bang on. Still haven't had another Jal Frezi off them since the first one, but I will, one day, and if it still turns out crap, then I'm ok with that, as long as the others stay on form.
Their Seekh kebabs are to die for, as I think I've mentioned before but, they are nothing like any seekh kebab that I've ever tasted before. The outstanding flavour is cumin but it's not overpowering. They are also very very spicy, spicier than any other seekh I've had.
Ray :)
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Funnily enough, I was a madras man until I moved here.. Had one from the local and it was awful!! I avoided the place until I tried a jalfrezi there, and it was awesome!! It really re-lit my bir fire! Since then, same as you Razor, I've tried a fair few opf their dishes and they've been superb but the madras has always been poor!
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Well, what with all the fun and games of the last few days I've only just got round to checking out the interwebs for any info on the Bengal Dysentry and guess what guys and gals, seems they are a small chain of 'award winning' BIRs in the Cheshire/North Wales area but with a far flung outpost in Hollywood, as in downtown L.A., yes that L.A. as in the U.S. of America.....blimey.
BENGAL DYNASTY (http://www.thebengaldynasty.com/index.html)
Cheers
CoR
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pmsl @ Bengal Dysentry ;D Every establishment has a string of awards....I think there's a bloke on Oldham market that sells em :P
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Hi TN,
Funnily enough, I was a madras man until I moved here.. Had one from the local and it was awful!! I avoided the place until I tried a jalfrezi there, and it was awesome!! It really re-lit my bir fire! Since then, same as you Razor, I've tried a fair few opf their dishes and they've been superb but the madras has always been poor!
lol, how bizzare. I do wonder though, if my palet has adjusted to their 'taste' rather than their curries have improved.
Ray :)
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I dunno, I think every chef has his good and bad curries. Just so happened the madras was a bad curry, and the jalfrezi was pure magic!
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And talking of awards, there's a place on the mainland with "2007 Curry House of the year" award, and its pants! Been there several times (friends nearby) and I've yet to be impressed with the food. Very bland..
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I have been to this restaurant and I ordered a chicken jalfrezi. The chicken tasted tough and overcooked and my companions were also disappointed with their food. Bengal Dynasty is supposed to be a very good restaurant. This restaurant has had mixed reviews on the Tripadvisor website.
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so Razor - where would you recommend in my neck of the woods - Manchester?
For me - Jai Kathmandu, Northenden, Swadesh, Bowdon, 7 Spices Cheadle Hulme - all excellent.
Forget Hilal Timperley
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Hi Goulie,
so Razor - where would you recommend in my neck of the woods - Manchester?
So, whereabouts exactly are you mate. I'm from the Tameside area of Manchester, Audenshaw, Ashton, Denton area!
The Pearl in Audenshaw is a good night and Indian Ocean in Ashton too. They're not you old fashioned curry houses though, they provide entertainment. The Indian Oceans current favourate is "Patelvis" funny as f*** ;D
Ray :)
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Wow, freaky topic - I was in Llandudno on Monday. I took the kids geocaching on the Great Orme, luckily we didn't stick around for a curry. As we were driving off I commented that it was a nice place to go for the day but we had no idea what people would do there for a whole week. Maybe you can actually shed some light on that question Ray?
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Hi Chris,
we had no idea what people would do there for a whole week. Maybe you can actually shed some light on that question Ray?
Well, apart from going up and down the Great Orme, not a lot, lol
Actually, that's unfair I suppose. There is plenty to do around llandudno and the Conwy area, it was just that the weather was shite when we was there, and we're not really an "outdoorsy" bunch us lot :-\
We stayed right on the front facing the bay, which was nice (except for the annoying Punch & Judy show, every feckin day :()
Did you not visit the copper mine Chris?
Ray :)
P.S,
Did you find the Geocache?
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We found 4 geocaches scattered around. There were plenty more that we didn't have time to look for. We were only there for half a day so didn't have time to visit the copper mine sadly.
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We found 4 geocaches scattered around.
OK, I'll bite : WTF is a "geocache" ???!
** Phil.
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Phil,
I didn't know either.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geocaching (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geocaching)
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Phil,
I didn't know either.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geocaching (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geocaching)
Oh, a 21st-century Treasure Hunt :) Is anyone (apart from me) old enough to remember Kit William's Masquerade ?
** Phil.
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Is anyone (apart from me) old enough to remember Kit William's Masquerade ?
Kit who?
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Kit who?
No, Dr Who, Kit Williams ;D
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Hey, amazing enough i live in llandudno, north wales and been to the bengal dynasty many times. The story is that years ago llandudno was a great place to eat for Indian Resturants, above the washington pub and night club was a big balti, food was amazing even out of this world! A few doors down another posh indian called the Indian Floral also truly irrisistable. These were great resturants but one went bust and the other resturants owner was involved in an underage sex case so moved swiftly out of town, this is now a swanky home cooked style english/italian and has great reviews. I miss those old indians and the Bengal dynasty was in her heyday. Now the town is full of second rate resturants so to say, if anyones there go across the road from the bengal dynasty to another resturant called Asia, tacky indian resturant, run down and food is so laughable you wouldn't even bother starting to eat it let alone finishing eating it. So for us locals we only have one choice, put up and have a good time, we do know what a great curry tastes like but now this is all we got left, sad i know. :'(
Anyone need to know more about my home town and resturants just let me know. Imo theres only two Carlo's and the Jasmine House, none are indians. We use an indian takeaway place across the road called the Shapla, not bad for takeaway and after a night out, this is the best indian till the next town. I feel that in the past ten years food standards in my town, which is famous and got one of the best catering colleges around has slid down a steep slippery hill, people serve me imitation food that dosen't do it for me and i miss getting drunk and eating great curry!
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Right, I'll give you one guess where I live too!
The Bengal Dysentry is terrible, Asia is grim (I quite like Lamb Byriani though).
Rhodri is right, there's two restaurants worth eating in, but to be honest the Jasmine (Jazzy) House aint one of them. Carlo's is fantastic for semi-Italian gourmet stuff and the Osbourne House is excellent for British/French food. Other than that we're knackered. I do like Shapla for a take away after a night out.
As for stuff to do, there's plenty you just need to know where to look, and how to avoid the over priced tourist traps.
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The Bengal Dysentry is terrible, Asia is grim
What, all of Asia ?! ;D
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Hey ootini,
Guess where I'm gonna be in July? Llandudno ;D
Ok, to explain. My son only has sight in one eye and so the Royal Blind Society (RBS) have hotels all over Britain. Each year, they offer places to the kids and their family for a 7 night stay, on a full board basis. The aim is for the children to meet similar children with similar problems.
Anyway, the hotel that we're in is the Belmont, it's kind of on the corner of the prom and the road leading upto the cable cars (Grand Hotel).
Can you recommend any decent curry house's a little further afield, say, Conwy?
Ray :)
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Ok, so it's July and like I said back in April, I'm in Lland...Clanddi.....LLLundi......North Wales next week.
So, can any of you fine folk recommend somewhere for me to have a great curry?
Ray :)
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Shame no-one got back to you razor.
Was enjoying this thread and thinking of a trip here in the next year.
I usually go self catering, just enjoy my own space more than
you can get with a hotel, and would rather sleep in a car than a b&b
so i usually take my curry making equipment on holiday with me, im
starting to find i prefer my own curries everytime than any restaurant.
My wife feels the same.
there are some seriously stinkinking curry places about.
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I know I'm digging up an old thread, but I feel terrible. I lost my login details / email account at around the time Razor asked for advice, (my username back then was Ootini).
I've sent Razor a PM apologising for not replying in time. It turns out though, that the Llandudno area's luck is changing when it comes to Indian cuisine. There's a new restaurant called Jaya in the village of Deganwy. Going there again this weekend so I'll add a review to the "Recommended restaurants" forum. If they managed to keep up the consistently high standard we've enjoyed so far.
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Is the Bengal Dynasty, Llandudno same group as the Queensferry Shotton one viewable off the main road?
Passed Queensferry, Shotton one many a time & looked & just from the appearance thought 'Naaaaah' - it just doesn't even look right from the outside
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Is the Bengal Dynasty, Llandudno same group as the Queensferry Shotton one viewable off the main road?
Passed Queensferry, Shotton one many a time & looked & just from the appearance thought 'Naaaaah' - it just doesn't even look right from the outside
That's the Amantola. Been there a couple of times, never been impressed. No idea if it's owned by the same people, sorry.
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I was in Llandudno this last weekend on full board basis at the St George Hotel and spotted the Bengal Dynasty of this threads fame. Looked it up on Tripadvisor in the terribel review section. Hilarious write ups - not even worth a look through the door to see what's what from the comments made. I see the Jaya at Deganwy has now closed too
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Was staying in Llandudno again recently. Amazingly Bengal Dynasty still there & still looks unappealing
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Nice for the good folk of Llandudno to have a constant in their lives ;)