SHALIMAR: Back on top after upgrade

Shalimar, Uppermill

FOR ten years the Shalimar has been up there with the very best of Asian cuisine in the Oldham area.

Its tasty dishes and quality meats give it a splendid reputation and, along with its sister restaurant the Simla in Royton, it has packed in the diners.

Two years ago, the Simla underwent a transformation to a bright, modern eating establishment.

That - and the wholesale raising of standards across the curry market - left the Shalimar looking somewhat dated. Well not any more.

And judging by the bustling, packed-to-the-rafters Saturday night we've just experienced, the punters love it.

Gone are the old coach-style seats to a much more open-plan and light and bright aspect to the Uppermill venue that hits you the moment you walk through the door.

There is seating both left, right and behind the central bar and it's busy - really busy.

The 'S' branding that brings symmetry to the Shalimar-Simla tie-in is prominent and the menus very similar too - which is no bad thing as they really do know their stuff.

As so often when reviewing Indian restaurants, we dodged the poppadum run so as not to fill up too early and opted to go straight to the starters.

I spotted the tandoori fish while Mrs W saw a plate of mouth-watering samosas delivered to a nearby table and fancied those.

We did have to wait quite a long time for the starters to appear - it was as I said very busy and the staff were attentive to our drinks while we chatted - but the food was certainly worth the wait.

My five chunks of delicious fish were effectively presented and simply melted in the mouth. The aforementioned samosas were packed with minced meat and, along with the obligatory side sauce, were consumed, every last flake.

By now the waiters were flying with boss man Abdul Hannan orchestrating the whole thing from his all-seeing vantage point at the bar.

Main course arrived with my big Karahi pan sizzling away.

I'd asked if they could do me a mixed meat (chicken and lamb) version - not on the menu - and that was no trouble at all.

It's a dish loaded with onions and just enough sauce to give me something to attack with my chapati and also soaked up by the vegetable rice.

Mrs W had gone for a chicken Makhani which came a bright yellow topped as it was with cheese.

There was a little of the sauce left by the time we had had our fill, but very little else.

The good news for curry lovers everywhere is that while the whole place has been given a facelift the food is just the same as it's always been - top class.

Have you dined here? Give us your comments in the box below