http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/ Welcome to Been there. Your tips on the places you know - that you love, live in or have just visited - are what make this guide. http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/17979 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/17979 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/17877 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/17877 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/16810 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/16810 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/16774 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/16774 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/15722
I know people who travel miles to visit this place, as does Peter Crouch, apparently. I find it very difficult walking past on my way back from work, as the smells are to die for. Try the chicken makhanwala.]]> http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/15722 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/15492 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/15492 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/15457 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/15457 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/15453
I agree that curry mile isn't worth it unless you're very inebriated and after the experience of the location, rather than the taste of the curry.]]> http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/15453 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/15444 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/15444 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/15438 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/15438 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/13220
I've been right up and down Rusholme numerous times and have found some favourites - but if you want to avoid the generic 'curry' you've got to order the right thing as well as go to the right place - traditional Karahi Gosht at Darbar, for instance.

Most places have their cons too. (Some greatly outweigh their pros as mentioned by other reviewers). But I don't think the curry mile has had it's day in general. As for the northern quarter cafes: they are indeed great value - particularly for town centre but are they really the best places around as some claim? Probably not. Are they tasty, great value great additions to the town centre? Definitely. I'd agree that all those mentioned above are good places.

Shalimar (formerly Chandni) wasn't so great last time I went - however again it's ordering the right thing that counts. Play to a place's strengths and you'll invariably get better food. I always avoid exotic ingredients when trying out budget places because one of the reasons they're cheap is that they're not throwing out £100s worth of shellfish every evening that nobody ordered. So if you do have exotic items they may well have been recently frozen.

Similarly the 'made from base sauce' issue is usually there in all curry places - does one place's lamb bhuna, jalfrezi, karahi or balti really taste that different from the next dish? Or is it 90% base sauce and a few trimmings? In most cases it's the latter. I try to find traditional Pakistani and Indian cuisine but it's not that easy. Often you're better off going with the speciality of the house, whatever it may be. And really there's not much can beat lamb/chicken, lentils, naan and/rice in whatever fashion that comes most naturally to the chef.

I've tried various other places around and about -the Didsbury places mentioned by others, Asian fusian in Chorlton, EastZEast in the city centre. Every place seems to have somebody who thinks it's the best in the city but it's rare I find one that's really exceptional in anything other than presentation - maybe I'm looking for the wrong thing in traditional home cooking - meat on the bone etc.

They still all just serve meat or veg in a preprepared sauce tarted up with a few bits of this and that (pun not intended). Or marinaded and grilled (the quality and 'redness' of these marinades varies somewhat - I'm not a fan of food colouring). Unfortunately 'good' often means well presented these days and some people recommend curry places on matters such as décor or how loudly their plate's sizzling when it arrives.

I'd try anywhere at least once - and most places numerous times. Try and check out the menu - if they've got lamb on the bone it's a good sign. Off to Hhunter's for lunch tomorrow... See how we get on.

One more thing, outstanding value at £2.70 for a chicken kebab at Kashmir King in Whalley Range. Fresh meat, naan, good sauces - just don't bother with the lamb tikka - reheated in the back room.]]> http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/13220 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/8981
Two of the best are the "Great Kathmandu" and the "Gurkha Grill", or if you are feeling adventurous and fancy a curry lunch, seek out "This 'n' That" on Soap Street in the city centre, their rice and three is a local institution and probably the best food you'll find in the UK for around the 3 quid mark.]]> http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/8981 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/8940 Goat:)]]> http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/8940 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/8928 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/8928 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/8921 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/8921 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/8823 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/8823 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/4443
I would say that the Chicken Tikka is one of my favourite dishes at any restaurant anywhere (and I’ve been to a few), it’s nicely charcoaled on the outside, and tender and softly chickeny on the inside and served with a wedge of lemon, salad, rice and chickpeas. It’s about the best inter-shopping lunch you could hope to have.

I must also add that it’s as cheap as chapattis, we’re greedy and struggle to spend more than £15 for two. Also brilliant lamb curry, lamb tikka, soft and slightly brioche like naans and great daily specials. Don't be put off by the outside.]]> http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/4443 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/446 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/446