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The return to Khaani...after one week!

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I visited the Khaani  in St Ives recently after being lucky enough to win their competition and was absolutely blown away by their Chicken Ruby dish. I haven't been able to stop thinking about their Chicken Ruby For anyone who knows me, I love a hot and spicy curry. A specially requested "extra hot" vindaloo is my usual dish (if not a naga or phal). For me the fiery taste of a spicy dish adds an extra level of flavour and excitement which really makes a meal stand out. I have been having dishes like this for so long now I've almost forgotten what its like to have a regular meal. If you had asked me a few weeks ago if I would consider a curry which was not hot enough to melt your face, I would have laughed!  ...That is, until last week.  Upon winning the recent competition at the Khaani Indian Kitchen, I ordered my usual vindaloo and my wife tried the Chicken Ruby as it was described as similar to her usual favourite, the Chicken Tikka Masala.  The Chicken Ruby in all

British Raj

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  I finally got around to trying an Indian restaurant which has been on my "to do" list for YEARS. The British Raj - Going for 45 years!  The British Raj Express, mainly due to geographical reasons (being over 35km away), and a global pandemic has meant that this well-established pillar of the Royston community has escaped me for some time now, but tonight The Cambridge Curry Community has finally been able to meet Safwaan and sample some of what they have to offer. This iconic red box has been part of the Indian restaurant scene in one form or another for a staggering 45 years. During this time it has won awards and has been a constant feature in the local community. This is why the customer service here is excellent. They are clear communicators, have a fast effective team who is more than happy to cater to your needs, and has an establishment that is clean and well kept. There is parking around the back, located near the centre of Royston, which is great. Especially for

Massala Takeaway

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I had the pleasure of trying out a brand new Indian takeaway called Massala on Mitchams Conner. This place can be easily missed next to The Boat House and Jolly Waterman pubs, so make sure to keep a keen eye out if you are looking for it. The service here was very quick and attentive. They take real pride in what they do. The staff was more than happy to discuss the ins and outs of everything they prepare. They had a good selection on the menu, with everything you could think of as well as all the classics we know and love. Even if things weren't on the menu they would be more than happy to prepare them on request. I thought the garlic naan was particularly well done. Something which often gets overlooked by restaurants. Garlic Naan I requested my dish extra hot and that's exactly how I got it. This nearly blew my head off . It's just as well I ordered a nice mango lassi to accompany myself If you are a hot head then these guys will show you a good time. Extra hot! The saag

The Taj Tandoori

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  I'm home! It was great to be back at the Taj Tandoori! It felt like coming home after a long time at war. The stunning new food hall layout of the Taj Tandoori The Taj Tandoori is home to one of my favourite dishes - The Bengal Tiger. Slow-cooked mutton in a naga sauce. Since this is the only place which serves it in Cambridge, I always have it every time I visit. I always want to explore the menu further as they have a superb selection of exciting and experimental dishes but the pull of the iconic dish was always too much for me and I end up having the same thing. The Bengal Tiger in all its glory! After I watched my mum experience their new shamee burger the other week, I decided to give that a go instead. I knew it would take all my strength to resist the Bengal Tiger once I arrived but it looked absolutely incredible that day and I've been thinking about it ever since. If there was a time to try it, it was now. The Shamee Burger is spiced minced lamb in a burger bun wit

The Banana Leaf

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  I made it! I finally made it! After all the hype, all the reviews, and all the delicious photos of food on The Cambridge Curry Community , I couldn't take it anymore and I finally made the effort to go to The Banana Leaf on Milton Road. I have visited all the traditional Indian/Sri Lankan restaurants in Cambridge over the years. Some have been better than others with places like Cocum being a massive disappointment and The Rice Boat blowing me out of the water every time. I felt like visiting The Banana Leaf could have gone either way but luckily with all the positive reviews on this group I was certain that I was in for a treat...and I was not disappointed! But first of all, a gripe. If you aren't from this part of Cambridge then it is an absolute nightmare to get to. Mitcham's Corner's biggest problem has always been parking. For anyone coming from outside the Cambridge bubble is going to have a miserable time. Luckily for us, we visited on a Sunday evening so there

Ely Spice

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Fairly flat and ordinary meal from Ely Spice tonight.  I remember when Ely Spice was one of the best places which delivered to my area but after this rather anemic experience it has put me off. The saag aloo was basically potatoes with a few specs of spinach. This is something which is very easy to prepare and very cheap. So, why scrimp on it?  The chicken tikka masala was the first I've tried which I've not liked. This is quite a sweet dish normally and hard to get wrong but they somehow managed it. For the sake of balance, my wife (whose dish it belonged too) thought it was fine. I couldn't quite put my finger on it but it was just too sour.  I had chicken vindaloo. This was ok. Quite mild.  My boy had a chicken jalfreizi. He's only 11 but found it a little too spicy for him. 😂 He thought he could handle it but he's not quite there yet. This is no comment on Ely Spice just a minor set back on my boys journey to be the ultimate hot head 😂 The rice was great. The

Khaani - St Ives.

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Once in a while, there is a dish that comes around which completely blows you out of the water.  The Dishooms famous black daal, the Lalbagh's Rhubarb Seabass, and The Taj Tandooris Bengal Tiger are to name just a few.  Tonight, after being lucky enough to win a competition for a gift voucher, I was finally able to try the last Indian restaurant left in St Ives I've yet to try and discovered an absolute gem of a dish which is up there with some of the best curries I've ever had in my entire life.  We ordered a variety of dishes to cheer us up on a bleak winter's evening, including lamb chops, Peshwari naan, Carolina Reaper vindaloo, saag aloo, and onion Bhajis...but it was The Chicken Ruby which completely stole the show! Chicken Ruby in all its glory!  Described as "a dish which has everything: spice, sweet, savoury, and utterly addictive". All I can say is, I concur! This dish is similar to a chicken tikka masala or butter chicken but with numerous dimension