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Al-Faisal Tandoori

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Slug
Slug
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3 out of 5
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1
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Grabbing a Quick Lunchtime Bite at the Al-Faisal

  • October 6, 2008
  • Rated 3 of 5 by Slug from Huddersfield, United Kingdom
Grabbing a Quick Lunchtime Bite at the Al-Faisal

It’s fair to say that much of the centre of Manchester is in a state of flux. The grand Victorian heart of the city has been supplemented by a recent flurry of grand new buildings, promoted by the repair work undertaken following the 1996 IRA bombing neat Victoria Train Station, and the holding of the 2002 Commonwealth Games in the city.

The area around Victoria Train Station is in particular a real mix; grand glass and steel buildings rub shoulders against crumbling old streets of Victorian Red Brick textile mills and merchants. Likewise, the shops, restaurants and bars reflect this strange transition.

While some of the restaurants in the area cater for the city banking types that work in places like the Co-op bank head office, there are other more humble eateries focussing on serving good quality and reasonably priced food. One café, that opens from lunchtime until early evening is the Al-Faisal Tandoori on Thomas Street street. This is just a few hundred yards from the Victoria Train Station, the grand redeveloped Printworks (an array of chain bars, restaurants and an Odeon Cinema) and the Arndale Shopping Centre. It is just tucked behind one of the main streets, and close to the Shudehill bus station.

The restaurant serves basic curry dishes, which are stored in bubbling vats of curry on a hotplate behind the counter. While this means the quality of the food isn’t the best, at least your meal arrives piping hot, and delivered fast.

The restaurant is very basic, and consists of a small number of tables, and chairs screwed to the floor diner style. The surroundings are clean if rather tired, with walls of dark green plastic panelling. On my visit, the clientele were a mixed bunch, varying from the local drunk asking for a favour of a cheap take away, to a couple of lads taking a lunch from some shop fitting work, and a rather elegant couple popping in during a shopping exhibition.

I was a little perturbed by the local drunk, as I feared he was going to start tapping me for cash, but fortunately he left quietly with a tray full of food. All of the diners seemed regulars, which was a positive sign and they served themselves from the cutlery store, and poured themselves jugs of water from the sink alongside the serving area.

I ordered a starter of Onion Bajahi, and received an enjoyable portion of two fresh and rather spicy hot examples, served on a bed of standard salad (iceberg lettuce, tomato and onion), and a couple of different sauces (mint & yoghurt, and spicy onion). Presentation wasn’t quite their thing, as the sauce was slopped around the edge of one side of my plate.

For my main course, I chose a Chicken Curry, which I asked to be accompanied by a fluffy naan bread. I’m not sure if my server’s English was a little lacking, but after I had finished my starter, he asked me how many chapattis I wanted. I’m assuming with a small place like this, some of the menu choices are a little random! My meal arrived on a plate and a slightly distasteful plastic Chapatti serving bowl. I’ve seen these in India; the holes in the bowl mean the Chapattis don’t get too soggy.

I enjoyed my curry, but it did suffer for being served from a hot plate, and it tasted a little stewed. Again, the spice quota was a little on the hot side, but there was plenty of chicken, and not too much grease in evidence.

Obviously, the restaurant is unlicenced, and they seem comfortable that diners are going to be content with tap water, although they do offer some soft drinks to buy. Given that it is only open until around 8:00pm each evening, I’m not sure if they are comfortable with diners bringing their own alcohol to the table; certainly, no one cracked open a bottle during my visit.

If you want a change from the sea of faceless and standard chain restaurants serving food in the area, then the Al-Faisal restaurant is a OK find – my two courses came to £6.20 ($10) in total, and I had a reasonable, fast, but to be blunt, unexceptional meal.

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