Kuri-off! A review.

A couple of weeks before I moved  away from Newtown I came across one of the old Temptation (Temptation Indian Restaurant) regulars leaving Planet Spice...!!!!!.... obviously very satisfied. And redfaced - not from the embarassment, but from just a really great meal and bottle of wine (he was solo and left an empty bottle on the window seat table). Anyhoodle I accosted him about it and we had an intense discussion which was mainly him defending himself about patronising the competition.

AnywayI did the very same thing as the accused tonight - we even took the fishbowl window table. Sigh.

So here i present my research - as that's obviously all it was....

Some claim Planet Spice has better fishbowl capacity. I was skeptical, as Temptation pretty much has THe fishbowl (potential for being seen) window: wide, clean, afternoon and summer evening sun (Planet Spice faces east), but I had to concur when the previously mentioned Matterho' barman walked past! so PS wins, but only because of dumb luck on the night. To be fair I've started MANY relationships from that Temps window ...started, accelerated, ended....

Service: PS waitresses were efficient and friendly and attentive at just the right points during the meal. The new staff at the Temps are...well they're not me anymore. 

Wow this new review section isnt going so well. Can I suggest checking out Wellingtonista for some sweet reviews.

So food. PS cooked us an amazing curry which actually... tasted healthy! Now we are the masters at ordering minimal, low-bloat Indian while out on the scene (sometimes you wanna go out dancing/on the pull after): We usually share one meat tikka (skrewered and cooked in the tandoori oven) entree, then a non-dairy where possible, vegetable based (chunky are best - who knows what makes up those blended smooth ones) curry and a plain naan with no butter (usually available on request). But even the most vegetably of currys usually tastes really oily or heavy with some unwanteds. But our chana masala was refreshingly.... light. And dam tasty. The medium was hot tho!

So I've never had anything that good - in that respect - at Temption but they still win in terms of:

1- rice - some fragrant seed placed in the middle of every rice dish which permeates through the whole bowl. what IS it? plus coriander. a nice touch if only for the aesthetic my Mammy's rule - every plate should be rich with a wide range of  colours, especially green. it never fails to give you a healthy flavoursome range of food. Bless u mum, and see you next monday :O

2- whoever i take there religiously says the naan is the best in town. It is.

3- I also think the fish tikka is better at chez temp.

Alc is reasonably priced, though IL got served the wrong wine - not house - so was charged 6.5 not 5.5 (ouch). She took it like a bitch as everything else had been so nice.

Facilities. PS wins hands down as their toilet is inside. That seat's cold on a perfect wintery curry-night Zaf!!

Distance from new house - obviously not ideal, although Temptation is technically further... 

Conclusion? I will obviously never rate another curry joint higher than the place I spent two of the best years of my life waitressing (/managing..).

The plug: visit Temptation, 191 Riddiford Street, Newtown! Its... just really good. And soon to have architecturally designed new service area.

Aw, when I was walking home past my old Aro Street flat (near the shops, bedroom door right on the street..) I saw a guy come out and take in the night air on the street like I used to do - perhaps while enjoying a cheap glass of Four Square wine before a trip to the flying fox or the video store - then head back in to chat to the person still inside. I tried to have a good peer in as I went past... I loved that room.