Millon, Allerton Rd, Liverpool

You never forget your first time. Mine was in May 1991. My debut on the curry scene was at the tender age of 8 in a proper old school, albeit posh at the time, curry house called Passage to India 2. I chose a very exciting dish called Chicken Korma and felt oh so grown up, not envying my contemporaries having to dine on something disgusting called a Happy Meal. The restaurant had booths, colourful rice, crystal glasses and Mum got given a carnation on the way out! Fast forward 22 years and it was time to head back to the place where it all began, Vindaloo Queen's Cavern Club if you will.

The restaurant is now called Millon Tandoori, it still bears a lot of the features of the original Passage to India but sadly, the booths have been stripped of most of their privacy and the carnations have gone. The food and drinks are served on bog standard tableware now but I'll try and not let it detract from the curry too much!

First impressions of Millon? Faded glory. The once posh décor looked a bit like 1990s period features now, but a bit of rough always means plenty of atmosphere for me. I was sad to notice its 2 USPs now absent, the carnation for the lady and the booths, no matter how twee that sounds, they were part of the character for me. I was greeted warmly by the staff, none of the brusqueness that its closest Indian neighbour Sekander's has. Now, I know it's only a minor point, but there was a vase with a dead carnation in on my table. If you're going to push the boat out and have some table décor, then make sure the flowers are full of life and not as limp as a Curry Mile popadom. The lack of effort in putting fresh flowers on your table could cast doubts upon the freshness of your food....

To start, I had popadoms as this time, I was determined to eat dessert. The pops came with 5 dips- the usual 4 plus one that tasted like watery strawberry jam!

No qualms whatsoever with the chutney tray quality, although I wasn't sure what to do with the strawberry jam. Maybe it was a practical joke, a bit like when I was an air hostess and we'd send newbies for a long stand. Who knows.

The main course was Vegetable Madras with the usual accompaniments of pilau and naan. This time, I had a craving for okra so took a side order of bindi bhaji. The curries were generously proportioned, albeit a little greasy. My madras had an excellent selection of fresh veg, including okra, potato, carrot, aubergine and peas. not a tinned or frozen 99p Farmfoods square carrot in sight. The naan was huge, fresh and fluffy. The bindi bhaji was a lovely healthy accompaniment with my curry, the okra just the right consistency and not slimy like in some restaurants. However, had I had known my curry contained okra, I mightn't have bothered and opted for an aloo gobi instead.

After that delicious feast, I simply had to have kulfi. At a bargainous £1.95, I pushed the boat out and had a mango one. Delish.

Millon's may not be the opulent eaterie it was 15 years ago, but at least they have kept their prices affordable and the staff friendly. While it won't win any good curry awards, it won't disappoint either and has something to please everyone. A reliable, good old fashioned curry house which is a breath of fresh air in today's pretentious times.

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Plus points- friendly staff and generous portions
Minus points- flat coke and the dead carnation on my table

Chilli Pot, North John St, Liverpool

Another rainy weekend in Liverpool, another day spent inside eating, drinking and not doing much else. I'm making the best of the bad situation that is this Great British Summer and dedicating it to the pursuit of business lunches and not eating picnics on Southport Beach. Finding a business lunch on a weekend can be rare as hens' teeth but thanks to a tip from my friend, I discovered the Chilli Pot in Liverpool city centre does a cracking 2 course deal with a drink for £8.90. Chilli Pot is a Thai restaurant and after a recent bellybuster in Allerton's Siam Garden, I was dubious about trying another Thai in case it didn't match up. Vindaloo Queen and Thai cuisine have had a tempestuous relationship with some establishments giving me fish based sauce so it was rare to find one that delivered the goods.

Chilli Pot is a clean, modern, friendly eaterie with professional, knowledgeable staff and enough space to ensure privacy during your meal. To start, I ordered veggie spring rolls- the portion consisted of 2 small, skinny springies and wasn't exactly overwhelming. They seemed a bit lonely on their bed of lettuce on the huge plate- for this reason, it became obvious why so many people love all you can eat buffets. Mind you, they were tasty and not swimming in grease like that abomination the Shangri-La.

My main course was vegetarian Pad Ped- a delicious concoction of spicy veg, served with boiled rice. Tasty? Yes, it was a healthy lunch, not greasy and bursting with flavour. Memorable? No. A bit bog standard to be memorable, full marks for presentation but it didn't leave a lasting impression. The portion size was small, even for a little thing like me so I think grown men, especially the Carnivores would come here and stop for chips on the way home. Great for dieters and the sushi brigade, but for the rest of us with voracious appetites, it falls a bit flat.


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The good- clean surroundings and friendly staff
The bad- portion size

Damon's, Speke Rd, Liverpool

I know what you're thinking- what was veggie curry fiend Vindaloo Queen doing in an establishment whose signature dish is ribs? Damon's is Liverpool's hidden gem for cocktails and contrary to popular belief, it is possible to go in there just for a tipple! As you have probably guessed, there was a severe lack of veggie friendly dishes on the menu so I checked out the cocktails and cakes instead. I had the Virgin Banana and Virgin Strawberry Daiquiri, £2.80 each or half price if you go midweek before 7. These delicious concoctions are ever so moreish and the atmosphere of Damon's is a throwback to a glamorous era. Utilising the old airport building from the 1930s, the Art Deco architecture is used to great advantage, providing cosy nooks and crannies to while away the afternoon in and some great photo opportunities. I also scoffed a carrot cake served with lashings of whippy ice cream for only £2.50. Now, if only Damon's decided to throw in a few veggie dishes, this place would be the perfect night out!

 

 

 

Canton Palace, Childwall Rd, Liverpool

The Canton Palace, the artist formerly known as Peking Garden, was an old favourite of mine 10 years ago. A traditional old-school Chinese on the Childwall Fiveways, it was a bit pricy compared to city centre restaurants but you were always guaranteed generous portions, a great atmosphere and sometimes even a coffee on the house! After a decline in quality and a disastrous report on Scores on The Doors for its bad hygiene, I gave it a wide berth until I noticed recently it has been taken over, refurbed and renamed. Is it keeping abreast of its new local competitors Spiceways and Elif?

Alarm bells started to ring when I noticed Elif, Spiceways and Owens were all bursting at the seams yet Canton Palace only had 4 tables taken. Hidden gem or bad smell I wonder? Despite being refurbed, the old carpet full of stains and the hideous 1970s artex was still present and correct, still intact from my first visit in 1999. Not that I'm an interior décor snob, far from it, it just seemed that only the sign outside had been refurbed. We were greeted brusquely and led to a table for three, despite the restaurant being 3/4 empty, with one of my poor companions having a nice view of the wall. After a long wait, our order was finally taken by a girl who didn't speak very much English, leading us to have to point at the dishes. To start, I ordered my much missed Spring Onion Pancakes, a firm favourite of mine when the restaurant was the Peking Garden. The two Carnivores ordered Vegetarian and Meat spring rolls.

Unfortunately, the starters were mediocre. The Carnivores reported that there was no difference between the meat and veggie spring rolls, a distinct lack of meat and a paltry portion of vegetables and the chili sauce that we shared was rather watery. My spring onion pancakes tasted more like Kwik Save potato cakes and were uncooked in the middle. However, they did try to redeem themselves with these unusual carvings decorating our plates- a nice distraction from the awful starters:

Spring Onion Pancakes- brrr freezing! An undercooked Cash and Carry purchase.

For the main, I ordered fried tofu with cashew nuts in yellow bean sauce, the Carnivores Singapore Chow Mein and Fried Beef in Ginger, served with egg fried rice. The waitress asked Carnivore 1 if he wanted prawns in his Singapore Chow Mein. What a stupid question. Do you want potatoes on your roast dinner?

I had no qualms with my tofu dish- the portion was generous, the sauce the right balance of piquancy and plum flavour. The tofu was in bitesize morsels, perfect for soaking up the flavour of the sauce, the cashew nuts giving it its signature bite. Carnivore 2's beef dish was out of this world too, it came over to the table on a sizzling platter, the ginger heightening the beef's rich flavour. Our fried rice at £2.50 a portion was disappointing as it didn't taste very eggy or fried, more like those 99p microwaveable imitations readily available in Farmfoods. Paltry portion size too. The Singapore Chow Mein wasn't worth the money- at £9 for what was essentially rice and a few beansprouts, the meat chopped up so finely it seemed like only one mouthful of meat was in it, a couple of prawns scattered for show.

I was looking forward to a decadent dessert as last time I visited, the knickerbocker glories and Pistachio sundaes were amazing. However, when I asked for the dessert menu, I was met with much confusion. It soon became apparent that the only desserts on offer were hideous concoctions you only ever see on £5 lunch deals like a scabby fried banana or a scoop of Happy Shopper vanilla in one of those school dinner-esque metal dishes. No thanks!

So, after wasting the best part of £50 on this monstrosity that probably cost £5 at the cash and carry, Canton Palace has entered my list of  'places where you'll need to go to the chippy afterwards to feel like you've had a decent dinner'.  Delightful.

Halfway House Carvery, Woolton Rd, Liverpool

Just a quick shout out for a favourite chain of mine- Crown Carveries. Yes, Vindaloo Queen doesn't normally advocate faceless, overpriced chains serving microwave meals at a premium so that's where Crown Carveries comes in. These budget carveries have sprung up in pub restaurants all around the country and are suitable for carnivores and veggies alike. Thanks to a voucher I found online, I enjoyed 2 meals for £7 but at full price, they're still a purse friendly £4.50 each or so. With fresh veg, generous cuts of meat and a veggie option, these carveries are a refreshing alternative on those days when you don't fancy cooking or want a day off from the vindaloo. My favourites in Liverpool are the Britannia in Otterspool and the Halfway House in Childwall, conveniently over the road from that awful sounding WAG haven Neighbourhood Cafe.

Here's what I had last weekend in the Halfway House- a delicious cheese, onion and potato pie with all the trimmings. Let me just add that the stuffing is out of this world!

Blue Lagoon, Lark Lane, Liverpool

Vindaloo Kings and Queens, I have finally found it. After much complaining and putting on a good act at pretending paltry portions have filled me, I have now found a decent Turkish restaurant in Liverpool. Step forward Blue Lagoon, Lark Lane's latest burst of Mediterranean sunshine.

Mother's Day. Our original itinerary was to go to the Red Fort for a celebratory lunch, compensating for the immense hunger after last week's Alanya debacle. However, the greedy so-and-sos had removed their usual Sunday offer of 3 courses for £10, their feeble excuse being 'it's Mother's Day'. It wasn't as if they were overwhelmed with customers either, one table was taken. Cutting off their nose to spite their face indeed. Thanks to their rude behaviour, we discovered a little piece of Turkey instead! Blue Lagoon has only been open a month and manages to successfully combine modern with cosy decor. It's small without looking cramped and cafe-like. Pictures of Turkey and the delicious waft of calamari and garlic add to the ambience.

Top marks for affordability- the deal of the day was 2 courses for £8.95 or 3 for £10.95 and drinks were priced realistically eg £1.30 for a soft drink. We opted for the 3 course deal as a security measure- all the Turkish restaurants I'd eaten at in the area had left me ravenous, its across-the-street neighbour Elif had left me running to Tesco's to buy my own dessert last time I ate there.

To start, the Carnivores ate Calamari and Hummous while I chose this delicious Cacik.

The starter portions were excellent, the Calamari comprised of around 8 pieces and all three starters came with pitta and salad. The Cacik was refreshing, the right amount of garlic without being overpowering. The hummous had a hint of chili, giving the chickpeas a much needed kick.

For mains, the Carnivores had a chicken and lamb kebab each while I opted for the veggie moussaka. All meals were served with pitta, salad and my beloved Pilaf cracked wheat.

Positive sounds were coming from the Carnivores, the quality and smell of the meat almost convincing me to swap sides! My moussaka had a beautiful potato base, the aubergines succulent and just the right amount of bechamel without being sickly. Some eateries don't get the balance right and make it more of a bechamel crust lacking in veg (yes, Zorbas, I mean you!) but this was perfection. I loved the accompaniment of pilaf, a much appreciated change from the Uncle Ben's packet rubbish that a lot of places churn out.

After a comfortable period of digestion, we ordered baklava, toffee cheesecake and chocolate fudge cake for dessert, all served with a generous helping of chocolate ice cream. Again, the portions were excellent, the baklava an authentic alternative to the usual treats. To top it off, we even got a hunk of Turkish Delight apiece with our bill and a voucher for 10% off the next meal. Great customer service, full bellies and a meal I haven't stopped raving about, the Blue Lagoon is a much needed addition to Liverpool's often lacklustre Mediterranean dining scene.

Alanya, Allerton Rd, Liverpool

The first weekend of spring and the first bit of sunshine I've seen in ages has meant one thing in Vindaloo Queen's world- the quest for Holiday Food! By holiday food, I mean Mediterranean treats, be it tapas, pasta, Greek salad or falafel- stuff I like to eat on my travels as opposed to curry and Chinese. I seem to have been on an endless quest for decent, authentic Turkish food in the UK. After living in a Turkish community in Germany for over 5 years, plus immersing myself in the regional cuisine of Turkey, I guess I've been spoilt and have rather a critical eye when it comes to the price/portion size/authenticity ratio of what passes for Turkish cuisine in the UK. After noticing Turkish bistros springing up like mushrooms in the North West, I decided to see what the fuss was all about. Enter Alanya on Allerton Rd.

Alanya is a small eaterie that looks more like cafe than restaurant, with a lot of tables cramped into a small area so I was expecting the prices to reflect the spartan atmosphere. Last time I lived in Liverpool, this place was an estate agents, so I was curious to see if they made a miraculous Grand Designs style refurb. Its special offers were on display outside including the confusing banner proclaiming 'Lunch for £9.95 or £6.50'. I was there on a Sunday to take advantage of its seemingly generous 'all mains half price' offer. The restaurant was cosy inside with a warm welcome from the friendly staff, charcoal grill blazing and giving off an aromatic scent of kebabs, onions and basil. However, this didn't detract from the non-restauranty ambience of the place, and as I glanced at the menu, the price didn't reflect it either. £2.50 for a small bottle of water made me gasp, as did the prices of the hot drinks. These were also in the same price range of chic city centre watering holes like the Noble House and co. This food had better be good....

To start, the Carnivore and I shared 2 starters of halloumi and stuffed vine leaves, approx £4 each. The halloumi was delicious but only consisted of 4 skinny slices, the vine leaves evidently tinned ones sold in every inner city ethnic food store for £1.50 a tin. I should know, they formed my staple diet in my student days.

For the main, the Carnivore dined on a mixed kebab for £7 (half price, usually £14) and I had my old favourite, Imam Bayildi (half price at around £5.70). These were both served with rice, side salad, fried onions and Turkish bread. The Carnivore definitely won this battle of the dishes, the succulent chicken and lamb being excellent quality and good value for £7, however £14 would have been a bit steep. My imam bayildi was delicious, the aubergine succulent and a great blend of spices, however it didn't beat the one I devoured in 2006 in Istanbul's Aksaray district (words can't describe what a foodie adventure that trip was. Istanbul is like Ibiza for the tastebuds, a party in the mouth!) The side salad was fresh, crisp with a sweet, tangy dressing and the fried onions were a welcome change from the usual side orders. The onions were dressed in parsley and marinated in beetroot juice, a perfect combination of 3 very different ingredients. Dissapointingly, the rice tasted strongly of Uncle Ben and wasn't the Turkish Pilaf I was yearning for. Minus points there. The rice portion size was rather measly too and there was a notable absence of a potato-based accompaniment like roast potatoes or even chips as many of its competitors offer as standard. We left slightly hungry which was absurd for me, as someone who lived on Turkish food in Germany and never had an empty belly!

With a few tweaks, Alanya could be perfect- friendly staff and a huge target audience on the doorstep, but just a few small touches that it lacks will probably mean diners will default to nearby Christakis for a similar menu at a cheaper price. Even a chunk of Turkish Delight with the bill would maybe be enough to leave diners hungry for a return visit. The jury's still out on this one, I'm afraid.

Red Fort, Lark Lane, Liverpool

In my quest for recession-friendly dining, it recently come to my attention that a forgotten favourite of mine, the Red Fort, does a Sunday deal of 3 courses for £10. How have I not seen this before? I had not been to the Fort since 2008 and was not overtly impressed due to the sub-zero temperature in the restaurant, a veggie vindaloo which resembled an Asda special and a lack of real coffee. However with a bargain on offer like this one, it was high time that I gave them a second chance.

Lark Lane is a hive of activity on a Sunday, with all the eateries vying cheek by jowl for customers, all offering a similar priced deal as the Fort. Sunday lunches and little plates of tapas can become humdrum and sometimes all you want is a massive curry to spice up your weekend. The Fort was unusually empty with only 3 tables taken but at least the Carnivore and I had the pick of tables, opting for the cosy booth-style arrangement at the back. The staff were friendly and attentive without being intrusive; although the Fort is spacious, it still offers a degree of privacy so you don't feel like your conversations are being eavesdropped.

To start, we had popadoms- fresh and with the right amount of satisfying snap- and a bountiful pickle tray. Top marks for the Lime Pickle- the Red Fort's offering is a smoother, easier-on-the-eye offering and less oily than the usual chunky, greasy one that most restaurants have. A welcome change. For the second course, the Carnivore was kind enough to opt for veggie samosas so I could try them- delicious and bursting with fresh veg, home made as opposed to the cash-and-carry frozen that Master Chef and co offer. I liked the sound of Aloo Pakora, the starchy brother of the Onion Bhaji if you like.

The Aloo Pakora made a welcome change from bhajis, a fine batter filled with a lightly spiced fluffy potato, comparable to a fancy savoury cake. These were served with a chili dip and a yogurt. So far, so good and hopefully not too full for the main event.

The mains consisted of one pilau (coloured-yippee!), a wonderfully fluffy naan, a veggie madras for me and a lamb madras for the Carnivore. What a feast! The Carniovre devoured the Madras and I was overwhelmed at the amount of veg in mine. As you know, my pet hate is restaurants that use tinned veg or those frozen bags for 79p from Iceland. Full marks for the Fort, providing me a veritable feast of okra, spuds, mushrooms and aubergine, heightened with coriander.

Curryholics, I believe the UNI has been toppled from its throne as Liverpool's best curry house. All hail the Red Fort.

Casa Italia, Stanley St, Liverpool

As regular readers may have noticed, I'm living back in Liverpool and keen to rediscover old favourites that I've forgotten about. With the advent of glitzy Z-list celeb haunts like San Carlo and its ilk along with the increase of faceless chains like N*ndo's, not to mention the seemingly constant regeneration of Liverpool city centre, it's hard to keep up with what restaurants have survived the double threat of recession and the opening of Liverpool One. Casa Italia is one old school eaterie that has survived and it's not difficult to see why. For years, it has had three main rivals in the rustic Italian genre- Buca di Bacco (now closed), Villa Romana (demise in food quality) and Franco's (massive price hike). Casa Italia is a survivor, a strong competitor on Liverpool's food scene. With word of mouth popularity, no flashy advertising and no need for special offers, Casa often has queues out the door and never has a problem filling up of a lunchtime despite the obvious absence of meal deals. I visited on a Monday at 6 and it was heaving. Full of Italian homeliness, the restaurant has all the essential ingredients like checked tablecloths, an open plan kitchen and the typical wall display of empty wine bottles. Casa has been a mainstay for around 40 years and was one of the original celebrity restaurants- back in the day, rumour has it that Cliff Richard was turned away as he wasn't dressed smartly enough!

To start, I had the Minestrone soup for £2.95. Like a meal in itself, it was full of celery, beans, pasta and was served with a huge hunk of rosemary foccaccia. Delicious.

My main course was my staple dish- penne Arrabbiata which came in around £7.50 (all pastas are between £7-8). Fiery and potent, it was the perfect winter warmer, a ray of sunshine in the freezing February temperatures. This picture doesn't do it enough justice as the portion was HUGE!

The two carnivores with me chowed down on Polpette, a Spaghetti and meatballs dish, and Amatriciana, a spicy bacon penne. Empty plates and full stomachs all round. Sadly, there was no room for dessert but I spied my favourite Cassata ice cream for £3.95 which I felt guilty saying no to! We settled for coffees- Irish, Americano and a Cappucino. The coffees were a bit pricy, £2.10 for an Americano but when the food and atmosphere was this good, it was a small price to pay.

P&D Italian Deli, Williamson Square, Liverpool

I just thought I'd make your mouth water with my new favourite antidote to that afternoon drowsy feeling! P&D's Italian Deli breathes a heady rush of caffeine and la dolce vita into the previously depressive surroundings of Williamson Square. The Americano is £2 for a small, a bit pricey compared to its city centre rivals, but when the staff are as hunky as theirs, they're worth it! Cakes are around £3.50 but for those watching the waistline and the pennies, they come in miniature form for £1 like mine above. I've not eaten Cassata since my trip to Malta last March, so it was a much deserved treat to find it in my hometown. The only minus point about P&D's is the temperature- the heating is always on full blast and gets rather uncomfortable. Never mind, there's always the outdoor seating area too.