VAMASAKI: joins the heavyweights

Reporter: David Whaley
Date published: 30 January 2009


THERE were more than a few raised eyebrows when the building that was once the Bull's Head at Grains Bar was suddenly painted a very vivid yellow.

Now, eight months on from first receiving customers as the Vamasaki, the completely remodelled building is firmly established as a heavyweight in the highly competitive market of Asian cuisine around the Oldham boorugh.

The transformation of the interior is spectacular with the open-plan upstairs now the main dining area and downstairs housing two splendid reception areas with large, comfy sofas and the main bar.

Once shown to your table you climb the centrally-situated staircase to reveal the main dining area with another more secluded section through an archway.

The attentive staff were ready to take our order but we asked for a few more minutes to take in the wealth of dishes available and this was not a problem.

We decided against the popadums to leave as much room as possible for the main course - something I was very grateful for later as I did not manage to eat all of mine and would have failed miserably otherwise.

We went for chicken and aloo chatt puri and a reshmi kebab.

The former was packed full of meat and potato and piping hot while the latter's spiced mince patties were covered with a light omelette.

The atmosphere in the restaurant is busy, lively and has an upbeat, feel-good factor where diners are enjoying their food and the company that they keep.

The main courses are given a very handy 1-5 'hot' guide and Mrs W was happy with her chicken tikka massala that more than measured up to similar elsewhere.

I decided on a change from the norm and went away from a curry-style dish to Vamasaki stuffed peppers.

They came on a long oblong plate as four halves of pepper stuffed with minced meat, kidney beans and topped with a crispy covering of cheese.

We also had a couple of chapatis, a vegetable pilau rice and a side dish of tarka dahl (spicy lentils) which I have really taken a liking to when having an Indian meal.

As previously referred to, I was not able to eat all four peppers but really enjoyed the taste combination of vegetable and meat - it was also a pretty healthy option on my most recent of fitness kicks.

The food got our thumbs up but it is the setting and the ambience that really gives the Vamasaki its cutting edge and it is, quite rightly, proving a popular venue.

A few years ago, you would not have given such an establishment a chance out of town.

Now the discerning diner is prepared to travel a little further for dining pleasure and maybe it will be some of the urban establishments who will find the going tougher.

Survival of the fittest.