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Topic ID 798

15/07/2005 by Frenchie

Best Indian Restaurant

Out for a small reunion with some old mates tonight- promised we would finish of with a good Indian meal. I havent been in a while - i was thinking Shah or Bollywoods as they seem the busiest - any views ?, Reviews only seems to cover one place - Hothouse ?


0 replies

Archived Replies

Reply ID 8765

15/07/2005 by CityBird

Personally I prefer Tikka Cottage. [:D]


Reply ID 8766

15/07/2005 by Victor Meldrew

Shahensha, in my mind is the better, being more established than Bollywoods and the Tikka Cotage. Bollywoods seemed to have cramed too many tables in and the service and food is not as good. Thats my opinion.


Reply ID 8767

15/07/2005 by Tigger

Shah - Work's everytime [:)]


Reply ID 8768

15/07/2005 by carlos fandango

Shah or Tikka get my vote.


Reply ID 8772

15/07/2005 by Victor Meldrew

I was told that at the weekend people get up and dance between the table in Bollywoods! Now what is all that about?


Reply ID 8773

15/07/2005 by Frenchie

Victor - I think that might just sway it......


Reply ID 8774

15/07/2005 by Ewoowar

Tikka Cottage and Shahenshah, in that order.


Reply ID 8829

17/07/2005 by Bengeobabe

shahenshah is over priced... tikka cottage, or at a push bollywoods, gets my vote..


Reply ID 8831

17/07/2005 by Capitalist piglet

Bit late for Frenchie but the Raj on Ware Rd is excellent as good as Shah - almost. Agree with Bengeobabe that Shah is not cheap but you get what you pay for and in this type of restaurant were only talking a few quid per person. I would not eat in Bollywoods again if you paid me....awful!


Reply ID 8838

18/07/2005 by Frenchie

Went to the Raj as it happens ! - Nice people, good food....most enjoyable. Not sure about the lilac and pink walls though. Will deff go again.


Reply ID 8866

18/07/2005 by Stan

The Raj is tops in my book !


Reply ID 8867

18/07/2005 by Jackanapes

Yet another vote for the Raj. If anybody feels like going it's worthwhile booking IME.


Reply ID 8876

18/07/2005 by Drama Queen

Has to be the Raj on the Ware Road, the others are getting too expensive now. I also like the Sunday Buffet in the Raj too! [8D]


Reply ID 8879

18/07/2005 by justin

the raj far and away is the best cooking. i like it a lot.


Reply ID 8881

18/07/2005 by Victor Meldrew

The Raj is very good and if I as specificaly going out for a curry and only a curry I would go there. However, once on the lash, the idea of staggering all the way up to it goes out the window hence the reason I am very well known by the staff and owners of the Shahensha.


Reply ID 8884

18/07/2005 by 01-mike

The Raj is in crawling distance for me! [:D]


Reply ID 8889

18/07/2005 by Capitalist piglet

quote:
Originally posted by Victor Meldrew
The Raj is very good and if I as specificaly going out for a curry and only a curry I would go there. However, once on the lash, the idea of staggering all the way up to it goes out the window hence the reason I am very well known by the staff and owners of the Shahensha.
Yes, we know Victor. Top man..


Reply ID 9102

25/07/2005 by Dude

quote:
Originally posted by Victor Meldrew
Shahensha, in my mind is the better, being more established than Bollywoods and the Tikka Cotage. Bollywoods seemed to have cramed too many tables in and the service and food is not as good. Thats my opinion.
Under different names, the tikka cottage has been going a lot longer than the Sharensha. The oldest indian was the Guru (incorrect spelling) where the Thai Rack now is, then it was the Murgu (incorrect spelling) which is the current tikka cottage, then it was the Sharensha, which was previously an old tea shop. Next came the Hot house, then The raj, then Bollywoods.


Reply ID 9107

25/07/2005 by Victor Meldrew

Ah, but did you know that Mea (probably spelt wrongly) was a waiter in the Guru in the 80's? and in fact so were many of the staff in The Shahensha. Correct the building that houses the Tikka Cottage has been an indian for the longest, but The Shahensha has been the longest established one in Hertford that has been managed by the same people since they opened.


Reply ID 9109

25/07/2005 by Ray_by_the_Beane

quote:
Originally posted by Victor Meldrew
Ah, but did you know that Mea (probably spelt wrongly) was a waiter in the Guru in the 80's? and in fact so were many of the staff in The Shahensha. Correct the building that houses the Tikka Cottage has been an indian for the longest, but The Shahensha has been the longest established one in Hertford that has been managed by the same people since they opened.
The Tikka Cottage building used to be a chinese resturant (Gha Wha?) in the 1970s. Not a very good one, I should add, but you didn't have much choice of resturants in Hertford in those days.


Reply ID 9113

25/07/2005 by nora batty

quote:
...then it was the Murgu (incorrect spelling)...
I think you mean The Moyuri (Pea****)


Reply ID 9114

25/07/2005 by nora batty

Actually, for the best Indian food by far, you have to go to the Bismillah in Parliament Square - but it only does take-away. They deliver though, and the owners/chefs are lovely people. That means the best Indian restaurant is my house on a Friday night.


Reply ID 9116

25/07/2005 by Victor Meldrew

The Begal Spice is also very good for deliveries. We used to use the Bismillah, but we felt there food went down hill as all the extra chilli dishes tasted as if they had just added tabasco? Maybe its changed chefs again.


Reply ID 9117

25/07/2005 by Ewoowar

quote:
Originally posted by nora batty
That means the best Indian restaurant is my house on a Friday night.
But what's the service like?


Reply ID 9125

25/07/2005 by wizkid

Chicken Tikka Haryala Massala at the Raj is to die for! I think it is possibly my favourite dish!![:)]


Reply ID 9127

25/07/2005 by chickpea

just feeling the need to stand up for Bollywoods. although the waiting staff sometimes seem to rush you, i think this is just lack of waiting experience and not rudeness. as 'an experience' i think Bollywoods is a really great place for dinner at the weekends - the music is modern and lively and the atmosphere is great...thank you!


Reply ID 9128

25/07/2005 by OldCross

Shah has gone downhill recently. Bollywoods is very good and seems to be getting better with friendly attentive service and fantastic food. Bollywoods also poached a number of the chefs and other staff from Shah so this could be a reason for the change in fortunes. Give Shah a miss as it is living off past glories.


Reply ID 9129

25/07/2005 by Ewoowar

When I went to Bollywoods I had the following experience; 1) They had over booked. 2) They had taken our booking as one for 9 people instead of just the 4. 3) Despite point 2 above they had given our table to someone else. 4) They ignored us in the entrance/bar area for 40 minutes. 5) They failed to communicate to us what was happening. We only found out that they had given our table away as I went to their book where they note the bookings and our name was crossed through. 6) We left and went to the Shahenshah. I have not been back to Bollywoods.


Reply ID 9140

25/07/2005 by nora batty

quote:
Originally posted by Ewoowar
When I went to Bollywoods I had the following experience; 1) They had over booked. 2) They had taken our booking as one for 9 people instead of just the 4. 3) Despite point 2 above they had given our table to someone else. 4) They ignored us in the entrance/bar area for 40 minutes. 5) They failed to communicate to us what was happening. We only found out that they had given our table away as I went to their book where they note the bookings and our name was crossed through. 6) We left and went to the Shahenshah. I have not been back to Bollywoods.
We had a very similar experience - they denied having a booking for us depite the fact one of our group had gone in person and made the booking with the man we were arguing with! So they offered us free drinks until a table became available - and then tried to put them on the bill. I have not been back either.


Reply ID 9161

26/07/2005 by carlos fandango

What gets me about Bollywoods is that everything tastes like they put a pound of sugar in it. Is it just me?


Reply ID 9163

26/07/2005 by del

If only the truth was known! i will never go there.


Reply ID 9167

26/07/2005 by Frenchie

Made a booking for 6 people at 8pm at Follywoods - turned up at 8pm...table not available for 45mins....Went to Shah. Seems they cant stand to have a table vacant for any longer than 5 mins without panicking and filling it with somebody else.


Reply ID 9168

26/07/2005 by Tigger

Have been there once, that was sufficient. Only went because it was a majority decision. 'Plastic' We have more than enough good Indian Resturants without the Purple Palace


Reply ID 9170

26/07/2005 by Ewoowar

I have set a separate thread in the 'Restaurants' thread for Bollywoods..... http://www.hertford.net/yoursay/topic.php?id=834 Thought I'd do it before Admin reminds us......


34 replies