Service is second to none in this “India restaurant”, it has an expansive menu and the only place i have ever known to have a champagne buffet at the weekend.

The reason for both the above is that the Gaylord is situated in the Rio all suite hotel and casino in Las Vegas.

Thats all the good news over with as the owners provide a true taste of india for the american palate, bland and tasteless. Its amazing that the food can be so well cooked and taste so bad. They als import kingfisher lager, which is another big mistake as the birdy brew never helps any meal go down, only back up.

Disasterously they also do not serve onion bahjis, so the traditional starter of champions was not available. Cleverly the knowledgable waiters noticed a curry connisseur was in the house and advised the chef to spice the curry up a lot even though chicken vindaloo had already been ordered. After sending back the blandest curry in history, deep felt apologies and super spicy curry returned. This still remained bland but quite hot and was washed down with a complimentary kingfisher to ease my obvious disgust.

Not much more to say about this place apart from they received plenty of complaints about the food being too hot from the locals and not being spicey enough from the tourists, so be advised tell them you are an indian chef on a spying mission or you could be in for the worst stew you have ever eaten.

The real plus point is that the casino and hotel are both great, food…..not so sure

Bret Myri scored this establishment 59

Comprehensive review coming soon.

Please see scoresheet below

This more traditionally styled Indian restaurant sits high upstairs above a Perfect Fried Chicken ‘restaurant’ and, in keeping with some of it’s Reading contemporaries, just near to a Burger King. Or, as the web site says, “Chilli and Spice Tandoori Restaurant is centrally located”. Having climbed the extensive stairway it became obvious to me why the copy goes on to say “be instantly transported thousands of miles” as it felt like we were attempting a particularly tricky ascent somewhere in the North Indian Himalayas.

Good job we booked because on this particular Thursday they were packed to the rafters – least they would’ve been if anyone could make sense of the advertising hoarding outside which firmly suggested you could choose from 100 dishes, eat as much as you like and only pay £10. This bargain never materialised (which is probably a good thing). Anyway, we were sat by the window which had a rather bizarre fibre optic cable looped around, presumably in an effort to tempt in more than the 6 or so punters they currently had and not because they were so far past 12^th night that it might as well be left up until next Christmas!

The menu looked a little past it’s best, not based on content but based on physical appearance – sort of Greasy-Spoon Café hand-me-downs. Anyway, we got some good popadums, some quite acceptable chutney/non-chutneys and a few bottles of cobra all in good time.

The starters were also quite passable with Rich pushing the boat out and going for the mixed appetizer which was a good size and ticked all the boxes, if not with a flourish. Accompanying salad was of the ‘traditional’ variety so I hope the person who had it after me enjoyed it (hopefully with a fresh lemon) or they too decided not to break the chain.

Main courses were not so good. The Lamb Rogan was a bit more like Lamb in gloopy gravy, and the Chicken Tikka Biriani came out with an unfortunate embarrassment of peas. The Chicken Tikka Massala looked nicely lurid though and the Bombay Aloo was up to scratch as were the Roti and Naan.

A goodly selection of desserts helped keep Mr Myri happy and Dr Dogoe was certainly satiated by the time-honoured Indian classic of Irish coffee. All were happy to get the After Eights and no one even mentioned Mr Creosote.

The staff were very friendly and happy to stand around and chat – unless the phone rang for another take-away order. Which is a point, because this is not the classiest Indian restaurant but it is very reasonably priced, and take-aways are 20% cheaper. We never judge a place on cost, it’s the quality of the food that is paramount, however, given the setting and the strength sapping, oxygen depleted, crampons-required, route in, a take-away from Chilli and Spice may not be such a bad thing.

RD

Randdy Dogoe gave this restaurant 69

Bret Myri scored this establishment 66

Rich Rebrys rated this restaurant 69

The first thing to say about Miah’s Garden of Gulab is that it is a Chain restaurant, with two other Miah’s dotted about Berkshire. But this is no McCurry,  Curry King, Kentuck Fried Curry or Curry Hut. This is quality traditional and contemporary Indian cuisine at it’s near best.

This was infact our second visit to ‘The Garden’. The first time we were persuaded to go to the inner belly of the plush menu and select from the Contemporary offerings. On that occasion I have to say it was less “Garden of Gulab” and more “Pardon hot Goolash”. We were not overly impressed despite a veritable balti of free-bees. So, with steely glare and an eye to continuity in reviewing standards I think we tacitly agreed on sticking to the traditional fare.

The restaurant is pleasantly arranged, with a reception area and bar front of house, leading through to a more secluded area which is dimly lit, but atmospheric non-the-less. Prompt and very polite service and we were quickly reassured with our Bangla’s and popdums. In fact, the service was super polite all evening without crossing the line of obsequiousness. The selection of pickles is second to none, with no more than six chutney proxies to choose from with my own personal favourite being a red, coconut based concoction.

Onion Bhajis and chicken tikka were both of a very high standard and hard to fault, possibly the bhajis a little too crisp?. Quite liked the way the cucumber had been sliced in the salad too which made me feel all the more guilty for leaving it on the plate (as ever). Main courses very hard to fault too. Personally the Rogan isn’t as quite as good as that served by the Bengal Reef, but that very much comes down to personal taste. Very good vegetable curry with the biriani and chapati’s were served as they were cooked so arrived good and hot.

A full compliment of semi-frozen deserts with names to amuse and bemuse were available, although we did have to ask for the desert menu. Nice little touch of free brandy’s super heated in there own carousel – particularly good as BM was driving and had to pass his over.

Miah’s Garden of Gulab qualified for some award or other at the British Curry Awards in 2007 (according to the web site). This actually means it came in the top 100 of the 3000 or so restaurants nominated, which is still pretty good really. For the price, quality and service we reckon they deserve it.

RD

Randdy Dogoe gave this restaurant 81

Bret Myri scored this establishment 85

Any Curry house that has its own pub / bar has to be different and the Sardar Palace is. You can start your evening with a quiet dink in the Sardar’s own “pub” listening to a few tunes on their jukebox. A Curry house with a jukebox!!!! You never knew Ravi Shankar had so many hits!!!

After a swift half on to the restaurant, the whole decor of the place is very Las Vegas, large polystyrene pillars hang from the ceiling not quite going anywhere and the clever alignment of mirrors gives the impression of being seated in a large buffet type Vegas lounge. Only real downside was that we were sat directly facing the forty foot bar which lessened the atmosphere and made you feel more like you were queueing for more beer late on a saturday night.

Most importantly the food. This is where the Sardar scores very highly. Not because of the worst popadoms in history (full of seeds and spices, no plain available!), but because the excellent starters serverd on a sizzler were well cooked and seasoned beautifully. It was sightly unusual to have tandoori chicken where the tandoori was only a coating on the outside of the meat but as it was so well cooked one musn’t grumble.

The main courses also were well presented and cooked, only the Las Vegas theme was starting to ring alarm bells in the back of our heads…..was this curry all it appeared or would we be reminded of it in the days to come???
Chicken Tikka Masala, Lamb rogan and Chicken Biryiani were enjoyed by all, and the sides of Naan and Roti have to be the best sampled anywhere so far on our travels.

So what was becoming a very good meal suddenly took a turn for the worse. No sign of any dessert and the “waiter” asking how much tip we would like to leave took the gloss off an interesting evening. The Vegas theme also continued in the toilets. You went through the brightly lit neon door wondering where you wouldbe taken on this magical mystery tour, only to be slightly dissapointed by average urinals, not some back room Vegas cabaret!!!

Oh well, the Sardar started on a good note but eventually just failed to deliver…until the next day of course when it delivered in spades……anytime you wake up and can smell last nights dinner is never a good sign.

BM

Randdy Dogoe gave this restaurant 60

Bret Myri scored this establishment 65

Rich Rebrys (Guest Reviewer) rated this restaurant 64

What ever happenened to the Old Anarkali, is the first question on everybodys lips, swiftly followed by what kind of lager do you sell??? When the reply is draught Kingfisher or small bottles of Cobra you know you may be in for a tough evening.

Perhaps the Old Anarkali was an Italian restaurant as the New Anarkali has the feel and decor of a place that you would expect to see Robert de Niro sitting in the corner, light yellows and bright lights provide crisp and clean surroundings but certainly the place lacks the feel of a traditional curry house.

Lack of staff is one thing that the place cannot be critiscised for as 5 or 6 waistcoated servers milled around constantly asking if Sir would like another beer, the only down side to this being having to wait for the one member of staff with a pen in order that you can place your order. Perhaps when staff out number customers, one should think of eating elsewhere??

Chicken Tikka and Onion Bahjiis arrived promptly, maybe too promptly. The Bahjiis where soft on the outside and inside and the tikka resembled sticks of chicken kebab rather than the sizzling splendour of tasty chunks of meat and onions. Main courses again arrived in good time and the Lamb Bhuna had to be one of the finest ever eaten, very well spiced and a good variety of ingredients made it a fine choice. Chicken biryiani was also good but nothing spectacular.

A varied selection of desserts and the offer of a free liqueuer are always most welcome, however the option of live meat (ants) in the toilets are never a good sign. The toliets also being let down by that sticky feeling as you walk across the room is never welcomed.

It has to be said that this meal was nothing other than ordinary, the only points of note were that its created a new rating element for these reviews……go to the curry house opposite instead!!!! and  also debuted the first curry for our Northern correspondent, who added that if this is the standard of curry down south then he will be staying at home…..for the rest of his life.

BM

Wali Jisonem gave marks of 62

Bret Myri scored this establishment 62