Mumbai2Shanghai Review - January 2012

Friday 20th January saw the first meeting of the 11th year of the MKCurry Club. We try to keep a routine of visits, and it had been a while since we’d visited the site of the old George public house, popularly referred to as the Spice or Curry George within the MKCC, on the Buckingham Road, Bletchley. Mumbai2Shanghai opened for business last summer, and given the economic climate, the performance of previous restaurants on the site and some of the stories we’d picked up regarding ‘teething problems’ we weren’t sure they’d be open for business by the time we got round to them.  

 

The restaurant is ‘pan Asian’ – Indian and Chinese. The restaurant has some relationship with the Silk Road in CMK, but where the Silk Road has quite a limited choice of curry-based dishes, the choice at Mumbai2Shanghai is much more extensive with traditional dishes (your bhunas, baltis, jalfrezis etc.) to complement the house specials.

 

Meeting in the Eight Belles to quench an early evening thirst, a range of lagers and red wines were available, but there was no range of beer, just IPA. Personally I think such pubs should be avoided by the MKCC and I will start a blacklist, here and now.

 

A turn out of 10 members were present for the 20:30 start in the restaurant. We were in the spacious end of the restaurant on a long table. Another group we already well into their meal in the same area, on a round table, which is always our preference, but I think it could only seat 8 maximum.  

 

Popadoms were taken with draught Cobra. Starters were ordered. The common complaint of the time taken to take orders for starters and then for main courses arose yet again. We accuse restaurants of giving plenty of time to increase the beer bill – they should know we drink plenty of beer anyway – don’t play the game! However when the starters did arrive, the sound of chomping soon took over.  Chops and onion bhajis were very good, but the prawn puree is worth a special mention. It is great at the R-o-I, but generally poor in most restaurants with floppy bread and bland prawn. At Mumbai2Shanghai, the bread was light and crispy and prawn was very tasty. Main coarses duly arrived. Scott and Steve, our hottest members, had vindaloos. They were pleased – it did what it said on the tin! I tried a small fork-full - maybe one day. I had a Lamb Karai – excellent. The breads and vegetable dishes were good and nobody had a bad word to say about the food, with many comments on the excellence of the food. Chef sent out a special platter for us – again superb.

 

In all, a great evening. Good food, nice décor, spacious with the internal walls giving a degree of privacy - The scoring puts Mumbai2Shanghai near the top. I, for one, will certainly go back to try some other dishes from the house specials. Ian and Dave, Bletchley born and bred, were shocked to find the toilets had been refurbished from the pub they visited as youth, but nostalgia was satisfied in the claim of recognising a faint smell of old George.

 

Judge Balti

 

Summary - Overall, a very good place to eat. We met the chef to congratulate him on his food quality.

Common Curry - Taking into account the size and quality of the portions, a very reasonably priced meal.

3 star certificate awarded.

Web site - http://www.mumbai2shanghai.co.uk/

 

Other Comments

Positive:

• Clear menu and chilli strength accurately indicated
• Cobra on draught
• Mixed starter and the prawn puree, very good
• Rashmi Kebab, special order, top marks
• Aloo chat full of flavour
• All starters very well presented
• Generous portions
• Lamb Korai, nice and spicy, tender lamb
• Razella Chicken, quality
• Great Tarka Dhall
• Mushroom rice - lots of mushrooms
• A very smart, well laid out and spacious restaurant
• Excellent restroom

 

Negative:

• In general, the service could have been smarter, especially as the restaurant was quite quiet
• Did not take main order until after we had finished the starter - unheard of
• Lime pickle had to be requested
• The kebab starter was a bit dry
• The nans were generally a bit non-descript
• The location has failed on more than one occasion in the past, lets hope it doesn't happen this time