Karachi - The Same Greatness but Better…

Me eating my Lamb and Spinach

But Why?

Well, the Karachi, as we know, serves, what I consider, virtually perfect Lamb and Spinach, and, on this occasion, it was no different.  It provided the craved endorphin hit I desire so much these days.

The addition of plate full of wonderfully tasty fragmented shards and clumps of onion bhaji whetted the appetite fully prior to the arrival of the sizzling pot of curry too.

The waiter was especially helpful and friendly on this occasion – not that they aren’t normally - in as much as – assuming I am a recognised face within the curry eating Mecca that is the Karachi – I don’t receive a menu, but am treated more as a guest, and just asked what I want.  On this occasion, I was given the option of two varieties of Lamb and Spinach – a normal one and a spicy one.  Suffice to say the spicy one was ordered.  It turns out that this is the one I normally receive.  It was probably the Rick Stein version I’m guessing.

The wife eating her Lamb and Spinach

No, the real treat on this visit was the accompanying wife.  We made this visit during a few stolen hours at the end of the day, before returning home to the madness that is ‘terrible two’s’, and outside the group curries enjoyed in the Bradford Curry Club, and almost without the pressure of official Bradford Curry Blogger work - it was just me and the Mrs eating Bradford Curry…  Just like the good old days.  Joy. 

Omar's

The Bradford Curry Club

Location

Omar’s

46 Great Horton Road, 

Bradford,

West Yorkshire

BD7 1AL 

Tell:  01274 414 188

Web: http://www.omars.co.uk

Time

3^rd March 2012 @ ~17:30 

Attendees

Jaz, Francois, Gill, Rob, Jenny, Pete, Lilly, Dan, Deep, Kam, Manraj, Lynda, Izzy and John (me)

Pre-Curry Watering Holes

No pre curry drinking on this occasion.  Small children in tow, and an early sit down time kind of negated this much enjoyed ritual.  There’s always next month though.  For reference, Omar’s is located just below Bradford Uni, so is ideally located for all the local student bars, and also my favourite Weatherspoon’s - The Sir Titus Salt. 

Expectations

HHmmm...  Now What do I Fancy?

‘Yorkshire’s Biggest Naan’s’ is the claim, and I was hoping for a decent feed if nothing else.  I was aware that Omar’s had a good reputation, and was generally popular.  However, nagging at the back of my head was the idea that Omar’s might be pushing the ‘Biggest Naan’s’ thingy at the expense of quality.

The Reality

As with a lot of the recent Bradford Curry Club outings, things got off to a shaky start.  The initial plan was for some healthy eating and shisha smoking at Jumerah.  However, upon arrival at Jumerah we were presented with a closed restaurant, with no sign of life and no evidence of opening anytime soon!  I will monitor the situation.  Hopefully it’s not bitten the dust.

So yet again were had to resort to a Plan B.  A few worthy names were banned about, but I wanted somewhere new and proposed Omar’s.  We missed Omar’s last year and a necessary visit had been on the cards for a while.  Our car load of Curry lovers were in agreement, and a few frantic phone calls later ensured the rest of the brigade were redirected Omar’s.

Phew!!  All was going smoothly all things considering.  ‘Most’ arrived at Omar’s without hitch, with only the unfortunate few making there way up at Omar Khan’s by mistake, but ultimately catching up.

Omar’s is quite a nice place really – all lilac and mood lighting.  The petite and bijou restaurant was buoyantly busy when we arrived, and remained so during our stay, but it was not too much trouble for the staff to quickly rearrange a space in the corner for our group numbering fourteen.  Loads of poppadoms and pickles, and the menus were placed on the table before we’d even sorted ourselves out.  So it was nice to simply sit down, open the menu and start munching.

Seekh Kebab

The varied, now more common, cafesque menu offered a full range of curries, including some mouthwatering specials, along with some burger and pasta etc options to boot.  I also spotted the Notorious Naan – a simply ‘must have’ for the table to tear into.  One interesting section of the menu was titled Sizzling Kebabs on Naan!!  I must have died and gone to heaven surely?  However, these monstrous sounding kebabs were deemed too larger sounding to even share as a starter, so they will have to be saved for another day.

All the orders were taken efficiently by the pleasantly mannered member of staff, me opting for my preferred Lamb Seekh Kebab, and then following with a Paneer Karahi Special (Lamb - but could be ordered with chicken, keema, vege, etc.)

Lamb n Paneer

Due to the size of our group the food took a while to prepare – but nothing excessive – probably just me nursing my single designated driver beer!!  But soon enough my kebabs arrived, and some additional sauces were also provided.  The kebabs were very nice.  Nice bit of heat with tasty spices and herbs, with plenty of moisture and an agreeable charcoal/tandoor after taste.

The curries looked spectacular, all being served in large balti dishes.  My Lamb and paneer wasn’t exactly like what I would consider a traditional ‘Bradford Curry’, it was definitely lighter in colour than other lamb curries I’ve experienced around these parts.  In addition the curry was saucier and gloopier than others eaten.  The flavour was nice but was quite mild, both in the heat and other spices stakes, and was more reminiscent to my mind of a Curry Mile or Balti Triangle curry.  This ‘lighter’ aspect to the curry added a much fresher eating experience than some of the heavy stews served in the vicinity.

One Mighty Naan!

The Notorious Naan has to be seen to be believed – it’s massive!!  But not only that, it’s a good fresh and tasty piece of bread too.  It ate very well.  Although we ordered the garlic version, it didn’t blow your head off with garilciness – perhaps a reflection of the general subtlety of herb and spice use noted in the curry also. 

Drinks Policy and range

BYO.  Cost Cutter is just across the road so no problems if you arrive empty handed.  Bottles openers were offered by the staff.  Of course there is a full range of soft drink’s and lassi’s.

Highlights

The Notorious Naan has to be seen to be believed.  Its size isn’t its only note worthy point though - it’s also a very good naan.  The staff and general service is also worth a mention – no quibbles regarding four young children running round causing havoc.

Lowlights

No lowlights to mention.  However, for me, the actual curry wasn’t perhaps what I would consider classically ‘Bradfordian’, and was definitely lighter in flavour and gloopier, than the dark/dry/rich varieties we often see around Bradford.  My curry was maybe more reminiscent of ones I’ve eaten on my travels in Manchester or Birmingham say?  This is a good thing though if it’s what you’re looking for.

Me and Lady Di

The Damage

I was baby herding during the bill paying procedure – I always like to make myself scarce at such moments!!  I think we paid ~£15pp which, considering this included food for the babies is pretty reasonable.

Aftershock

Apart from leaving the restaurant looking like four little Tasmanian Devils had whirlwinded through, there was no problems.  Although an early doors Bradford Curry eating extravaganza, everyone opted to go there separate ways, and not go for further pints in the Sir Titus Salt.

Overall

I really enjoyed my Omar’s experience.  It was a good Club turn out, everyone seemed to enjoy themselves, and the service was excellent too, so top marks. 

It's Good to be Back Eating Bradford Curry

Back to Reality

Well, holidays are now over, and as good as it is experiencing wall to wall sunshine, warmth, and the sea and the sky, and an unexpectedly good curry, it's good to get back to reality...  Am I really saying this?







It's true to a certain extent.  The mundane monotonous drudgery of everyday life of get up, go to work, go home, go to bed, repeat, is all worth it for the odd occasion of unplanned Bradford Curry eating at the likes of the Karachi.  All worth it and Karachi's Lamb and Spinach is still my fave Bradford Curry.  Like I say, It's good to be back.

Karachi Lamb and Spinach

Holiday - Fazz's, Lanzarote

Pushing the limits of the youngest
Bradford Curry Club Memeber

Holiday’s…  They're always a worry – if holidaying outside Bradford that is.  “Are we gonna find a decent curry?”

Well, I can confirm, if you’re planning to holiday anytime soon in Playa Blanca, Lanzarote, then yes, you’re gonna find Bradfordesque curry for sure.

I'm not wanting to dedicate too many Bradford Curry Blog column inches to a curry house in Lanzarote, but Fazz’s (somewhere on the promenade getting on towards the lighthouse and in the Rubicon Marina shopping center) is well worth a visit.

Not only does Fazz’s proffer high quality curry in a modern environ, with a well-stocked bar, serving amongst other things, local wine – it also provides the holidaying Bradfordian the perfect antidote to the holiday curry blues.

Barring the strange Hotdog flavoured sheikh kebab, the curry was rather tasty and wouldn’t have been out of place if served in the mighty Bradford.