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Graeme's R
It has been a while since I have done a personal
review as I have felt, in most cases, that the overall comments have been a
fair representation and I haven't needed to add to them. This maybe the case
again. As I write this I haven't seen the overall results, but I felt incensed
enough to put my own thoughts down in words - and hopefully, at least, provide
some guidance to others when searching out curry's in the Milton Keynes area.
Firstly, we had a great time at the Bull and
Butcher pub in Aylesbury Street - our chosen meeting place for this occasion.
Indeed, at one time there was a great singing rendition from the other bar and
we were very close in signing them up for our Christmas entertainment!
The Dinajpur, being just across the road, meant we
had the luxury of leaving the pub at one minute to nine and still arriving
before nine for our allocated booking. I was really looking forward to the
experience. Three of us from the club had been there in August and we were
impressed by the staffs' attentiveness and sense of humour. We mentioned to
the manager about our club and told him we would be performing an "official"
visit in October. He was very keen at that time to make our evening great and,
having supplied him with details of our web site and the fact that the Rose of
India in Duncombe Street still flew high above all other Indian Restaurants,
he was equally keen to ensure that the Dinajpur became tops.
So, imagine our surprise when the following events
happened.
1. Having arrived on time for our booking, we were
directed to the comfy chairs, given menus and drinks, and fresh bowls of
Bombay mix and not shown to our table for 35 minutes. OK, I know that the
Dinajpur is a small restaurant, but quite honestly, I don't expect to be kept
waiting that long: a reservation is a reservation. It might be different if we
were given the option of staying where we were or going to our table. But we
weren't. Nor were we going to be, because the table was already occupied.
2. None of the waiting staff appeared to be the
same as those from the summer and the "manager" was nowhere to be seen. So,
has the restaurant changed hands? Or have they just become a little blasé
in their attitude?
3. At least, when we did get to the table the
popudums and pickles were waiting for us. However, most of us wolfed these
down because, by now, we were so hungry, and didn't do justice to the usual
savouring of the experience.
4. When he starters arrived (the order was taken
for the whole meal at the "comfy chairs") they took up to 5 minutes to bring
the complete lot out. After devouring these we had general discussion about
the usual quality and experience of them. In general, we agreed that they were
below average starters. For example, the Onion Bhajees were only just warm (an
experience not just unique to this restaurant, but nonetheless, not good), and
they were dry. The prawn puree consisted of good bread but tasteless, bland
prawns. Another indicator is that we often ask our colleagues to "try some"
because we're impressed. That did not happen this time.
5. The main courses ranged quite considerably from
less than average to excellent. The side dishes were nothing special. The rice
was a bit sticky. The breads were acceptable (so, with the puree, it seems
they have a good bread chef). The waiter serving them up didn't seem to fully
know what it was he was passing out and, again, some dishes took UP TO 10
MINUTES to arrive.
6. Talking about the waiter, I was really annoyed
to find we had one with attitude who liked to talk back to the customers and
generally piss people off (sorry about the strong language, but other terms
may not suffice). I do not think he took the MK Curry Club seriously. We are
the first to admit that we are a club that enjoys going out and having a few
beers before our curry experience, but we take our curry seriously and believe
our web site provides a important guide to others who also enjoy such an
experience. Clearly, the waiter wasn't happy about us being there, or perhaps
he was just having a bad day. Well, shame on the Dinajpur.
7. The meal, then, was not the best we've had, but
the bill was the most expensive, coming in at £22 per head. I tried to talk to
said waiter about this who, clearly, thought that all I was angling for was a
discount as he was quick to point out that they don't give discounts "not even
of take-aways". I tried again to tell him that value for money meant that £22
a head would mean an exceptional meal, and this was not. I explained by
saying that Café
Ganges was better value for money. He obviously thought I was still angling
for a discount because he said they don't give out "freebies" like some other
restaurants - that seems like a slur on other good quality Indian Restaurants
in the area to me! Oh, by the way, when we were there in the summer we did
get a discount and we were offered drinks on the house - which we
turned down!
8. I asked to see the manager, because I wanted to
make my point to him. Well, he wasn't around - either conveniently, or bad
timing - or maybe he has been fired for being too good at his job?
Overall, if anyone does decide to look at our web
site before choosing where to go for a curry I would advise them NOT to go to
the Dinajpur as a first choice. In fact, I'd even steer them to the Golden
Curry before recommending the Dinajpur. I invite the restaurant manager to
comment on the above and tell us why it all went so wrong.
Anyway, we're off to Maharaja's for a re-visit
next month. I hope they read this and keep up their excellent rating from our
first experience.
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