Curry in Cambridge
Reviews for the Nirala
Author:Tim
Date:5/10/2009
Ate there on 5th October 2009 and it is still as Adam S states, wonderful! I had the Chicken Lambabda and Paula the Lamb Mugal Dansak, we shall be returning there frequently in the future.
Author:Adam S
Date:22/4/2008
I have to say that the Nirala is the best curry house that I have eaten at in Cambridge thus far. The food is well priced and the portions are more generous than at other establishments. The service seems to be more reliable than at other similar restaurants too. They are very accommodating of large groups: 30 or so of us from my rowing club turned up and they fitted us in very well.
Try the Special Biryani and Brinjal Bhaji - yum!
Author:Andrew
Date:29/1/2007
We've eaten in this restaurant on and off about once a month for several years, so have observed its various changes from the dowdy latter days of the old Nirala, through the unpredictable phase of the Tandoori Villa, and into the reincarnation as the Nirala. The far more upmarket decor and the improved presentation of the food have lifted this restaurant into one of the best (and best value) around Mitcham's Corner. The chef's specials are worth investigating, although the standard dishes are also well up to scratch. From the specials, the Shakooti chicken and Shatkora Lamb and the Chicken Tikka Jalfrezi are to be recommended (and the portions are generous). When we had the prawn special it was simply enormous! If you don't live around the area, but are in walking distance, it's well worth making the effort.
Author:Neil
Date:4/7/2006
Not bad food, but I wouldn't say it was stunning either though. I had the lamb balti which was nice but would have been much better if it was slightly spicier. Atmosphere and service were fine.
Author:Jon G
Date:5/11/2005
We (a party of 3) visited on a Saturday night at about 9pm. Having sat down and been handed the menu we ordered the usual beer and puppadums and were told that the order for puppadums couldn't be taken until we'd ordered the rest of the meal too. We asked for the reason and were told it was 'policy'. We left!
Author:Tony and mates
Date:13/8/2005
Hi, Well the nirala (As its now called) - Used to be TAndoori Villa is much better looking and less drab then it was. I have been there twice now (cos its not far from where i live) and i must admit that both times the food was not upto scratch, the jaalfrezi was bland and boring and i cant say much better for the rice either, rather coldish! Anyway, apart from that service was ok, but i wouldnt recommend it! Try the New India Palace on Newmarket Road, opposite CRC instaed.
Author:James
Date:24/5/2005
Has now reverted back to its original "Nirala" name, and its not the only thing that's changed!Redecorated, new floor, new furniture, new front window and most importantly - new menu and a new manager who used to be the chef.He's introduced a fantastic new menu and this place really is worth trying out now. Those who like Dhansaks should go to try out the Mugol Dhansak - it is the only place in the world that serves it, because the manager invented it!Its like a completely new restaurant, and deserves to be much higher up this list.Oh, and they've also banned smoking recently ;)
Author:James
Date:15/2/2004
Agree with other reviewers - the Tandoori Villa is never the best curry house in Cambridge, but I keep going back again and again because it's local, the food is perfectly OK and the service is friendly. The Kashmiri is a nicely spiced dish, perfect for someone who is looking for something with more oomph than a korma or massala, but not going to blow their head off! The madras here, for me, is right on the line between being perfectly spicy and too hot. But when a mouthful oversteps the mark, there is always a nice cold Kingfisher or well-made peshwari naan to fall back on! I've had a ceylon a couple of times here, but found it that little bit too hot. Also, I went really late once, and the chicken was very stringy and dissolved in the curry. But that was an anomaly. Be advised too that a couple of the waiters (inc. the talkative manager) are suckers for the ladies - get your girlfriend/wife to flirt a bit and you'll have free desserts or extra mints with your bill before you know it!
Author:CM
Date:2/1/2003
The joy of the Tandoori Villa is that it's nothing special. Ideal if you can't be arsed after a hard day's work and just want to drop in for a quiet solo curry. Food isn't that bad either - nothing special but then not bad either. This place is like the diners used by down-at-heel heros in American movies who chat up the waitress over a cup of coffee and a slice of pie. Only, you don't have a waitress here - just a chatty waiter who can discuss the Cambridge curry scene at length, and a passable curry.
Author:Neil
Date:6/12/2002
The curry club has been avoiding this place for some years as our last experience was pretty poor. Much to my surprise the food was not bad at all this time, I had the lababda which although it wasn't the best in Cambridge it was very tasty.Either they have changed their chef or sent him on a training course. Massive improvement since our last visit!
Author:Dr S
Date:3/12/2002
I agree with Moles; it has improved a *lot* since I last visited. Seems to have built up quite a clientele too. last time we ate alone. These time there were 3 other tables occupied, apparently by regulars, in the smallish restaurant on a Monday evening. Service was friendly and generally good. The one exception being when we asked whether rice came with the Chef's Special and were given the wrong answer, but we could put that down to a misunderstanding. The menu was not very extensive, but had a few interesting items not often seen. Popadoms nice and fresh with 4 pickles (thought the red one was not as awesome as the Tandoori Palace ARS). I had the chicken bangla jalfrezi - like a jalfrezi, but spiced up with a hot pickle rather than chili - very good I thought. Also nicked a bit of someone elses lababdar, which was OK but not as spicy and herby as some others I have enjoyed in the past. Overall a good evening. As I live on that side of town I will probably go there more often now, but it is probably not worth going too far out of your way for.
Author:Moles
Date:27/3/2002
Despite the other (old) poor reviews, this remains my favourite curry joint in Cambridge. The butter chicken (I think it's "chicken masala" on the menu) was one of the best I've had in the UK and easily the best in Cambridge. Their Vegetable Biryiani was not bad and VERY big. My only complaint is they do tend to go overboard with ghee often (but lots of curry joints I've been to here do anyway).8/10
Author:Mark C
Date:29/8/2000
Oh dear. I've tried this place a couple of times just
to make sure, but never again. Bland, over-greasy food
seems to be the standard fare.
Author:Dr S
Date:28/8/2000
Note that the Nirala, mentioned in some earlier reviews, is now called the Tandoori Villa. All reviews and scores up to this date were from when the place was called the Nirala. I have been told that the management has not changed.
Author:Jonathan Phillips
Date:19/10/1999
If you want a curry, happen to be standing outside the Nirala and are feeling lazy, you may be tempted to go inside.
Ever the optimist, I have paid about 10 visits and I would say they rank between poor and passable, but never good.
Author:Scott
Date:5/10/1999
Oh dear. At least the staff smiled, but then again they probably knew what we were going to get served.
Author:Dr S
Date:20/9/1999
I am not a great fan of proving my manhood by eating curry,
but I would have liked a little flavour in my chicken dansak, which was more like a chicken stew with lentils
than a curry. I have no argument with the Nirala's position in the league table.
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