Britain’s Biggest Curry Party in Greenwich

A superb special menu was set up by the Gurkha’s Inn as the Greenwich Curry Club and friends gathered to be part of Britain’s Biggest Curry Party to raise money for the James Whale Kidney Cancer Fund.

Ideal for grazers who like to try a bit of everything, the menu included a lot of Nepalese specialities. The Lamb Momos, tasty balls of mince wrapped in dough, are a favourite of diners at the Gurkha’s, but with succulent Grilled Salmon and Chicken Tikka, there was a feast in the starters alone.

Welcome surprises on the menu were the Achari Paneer Tikka and the Dal Makhani, both dishes that are often overlooked but incredibly tasty. The Dal Makhani has already been ordered in subsequent curry visits and looks set to be a new favourite. The Lemon Rice, with tiny zesty pieces of the fruit, is delicious, and the tang works particularly well with the spicier dishes such as Chicken Chilly Dry Fry.

Eyes up for the Mongoose beers
And eyes down for the food

Gurkha’s King Prawn, with prawns that were worthy of the name, Hariyo Lamb, Kukhura Bhutuwa, and supper soft spinach in the Saag Harabara completed the line-up along with garlic naan and rice.

Mongoose kindly supplied the beer for the evening, although there was still time to sample the Nepalese Khukuri beer, naturally.

The total cost for the food and beer was £20 a head, which included a contribution to the charity. This was topped up by a generous donation from the Gurkha’s Inn itself and some of the regulars at the nearby Plume of Feathers pub.

Any chance of another popadom? And below from left… Gurkha's Inn is named Restaurant of the year… Never get between a man and his curry… Happy curry fans

   

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Thanks Joanna

Gurkha Raj Doot, Aldershot

Thank goodness for Joanna Lumley, that’s all I says. If it wasn’t for her our wicked government (or was it the last government?) would have packed off the Gurkhas to their home in the hills and this restaurant might not be here.

Truth is, there have been a large number of Gurkhas living in Aldershot (as you’d expect from the Home of the British Army) long before all the publicity. And this restaurant is testament to that.

While all the usual Indian dishes are on offer at very reasonable prices (Chicken Kurma £5.95, Lamb Madras £5.45, Prawn Vindalu* £5.95) there’s also a chance to try some Nepalese dishes (which for the geographically challenged is where our fighting force is recruited from). Gurkhali Chicken Chilli (£5.95) has the usual tomato-based hot sauce but unusually comes with green olives. Or there’s the hot pork dish, Gurkha Pork Buhtuwa (£5.95) not a million miles from a vindaloo.

This very casual place (all tables are downstairs from a large, empty entrance upstairs) and seems to be a bit of an institution in the town. The canteen-style appearance of the place attracts people looking for a quick bite as well as those out for the night. And while it may be officially called Gurkha Raj Doot, if you’re looking for the place just ask for Johny Gurkha’s, which is what all the locals call it.

* Please see notes about spelling in About us.

Gurkha Raj Doot, 186 Victoria Road, Aldershot, Hampshire, GU11 1JZ. Tel: 01252 328773. Open: daily noon–2.30pm and 6pm–11.30pm.

Gurka Raj Doot snapshot

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