A Gate-way to dream meals for curry lovers
9:26am Thursday 7th April 2011 in Eating Out
INDIA Gate, Westhoughton, has been one of my favourite places to go for a curry in Bolton for years.
There is another restaurant with a similar name in Bradshaw, I don’t know whether or not they are related, but that one is one of my other favourites.
With it being a while since I had been to either and with friends visiting and staying in Westhoughton, we headed to the town’s version one Saturday night for a curry and catch up — bliss.
My husband and I arrived first and were quickly seated in the bar area and served cokes.
When our friends arrived they weren’t offered a drink for a while, in fact not until they tried to take our order. But this was soon rectified, Cobra for both of them.
You order your food before you reach your table, so with decisions made we were shown to one of the rooms. The décor is quite basic, it’s more plush at the Bradshaw restaurant, but it was simple and nice.
There’s a relaxed atmosphere and space, so you don’t feel squashed in like sardines.
The service was fine, not very friendly, but pretty efficient.
We started with poppadoms and chutneys, costing a few pounds, which were scrumptious and soon demolished. That was all the starter we needed, but there were mixed dishes, seafood and favourites such as onion bhajis and samosas for a few pounds upwards.
Then we went for chicken tikka masala for the girls, while the lads had chicken balti dupiaza and chicken shashlik (all £7-10) — silence fell as we tucked in.
Not over indulging on starters meant room to finish our dishes.
Everyone agreed the meat was tasty and tender, with delicious rich sauces. My husband and I went for pilau rice and garlic naan and our companions had egg rice and keema naan, the perfect accompaniments — one rice was enough for two, and the tasty naan that wasn’t too greasy. We were stuffed afterwards.
There were lots of mains to choose from, all the usuals made an appearance, specials and more, from £7 upwards, most £9 to £10.
Side dishes were a couple of pounds and there were all the normal choices in what seemed to be a wider range of options.
We washed it all down with more Coke and Cobra.
We weren’t offered dessert, but none of us would have room. Plus, after a curry something sweet often doesn’t seem right — a wet wipe and mint chocolate and we were done.
The bill came to just over £75 for four, so not bad but a little pricey for what we had.
The meal was absolutely delicious.
I think the décor and staff are slightly letting the side down, but the quality of the food was so good that I’ll be back, and I recommend India Gate to any curry lover.
