Tuesday Night is Spice Night

While all the other Indian restaurants in town are empty mid week, Peterborough’s Royal Spice at the Westgate end of Park Road is doing a roaring trade to a packed restaurant week after week.

I don’t think it’s any secret how they manage it either - good service, great food and oh, on a Tuesday you get a full meal for just a tenner. Poppadom, starter, side dish, main and rice (or Naan) for only £10.

Interestingly, neighbouring restaurant the Shah Jehan also run the same offer on the same night yet as we left the bustling Royal Spice, the Shah Jehan two doors down was completely empty with staff leaning against the bar. I’m sure their food is quite good but when the owner appears in the local paper after being charged with serving watered down drinks, it can’t be good for business!

Anyway, back to the excellent Royal Spice…

Customers were a proper mix of couples, friends, family and people out on a work’s ‘do’. There was also a steady stream of takeaway orders going out which is a good sign - takeaway customers are a lot more fickle when it comes to having a favourite food source and are easily swayed by a new menu dropping through their letterbox.

Interior decor is very modern and well thought out, ensuring tables don’t spill over each other and staff still have enough room to move about. The seating area by the window is a lovely spot to neck a glass of Kingfisher whilst waiting for a table to become available.

The Tuesday Night “Spice Night” promotion lets you choose from the full menu, so you’re typically paying about half the normal price per person. Obviously they make a bit of that back through drink sales but the food portions and quality don’t seem to suffer for being undersold.

My Xacuti Chicken was bloody fantastic and the girlfriend said her Chicken Makhani was nice, if a little mild (compared to the chilli-fired food I normally put her through). Rice was rice, bread was bread. Not much to say about that. All in all a top class meal.

I’m not sure I’d pay full whack for a meal, just because I’d feel like I was cheating myself by not visiting the Banyan Tree although you won’t be disappointed at the Royal Spice.

So if you’re looking for a great curry or a fantastic Tuesday night meal with work, friends or family, you can’t beat the Royal Spice.

Their website is at the other end of www.royal-spice.co.uk but be warned, the music may get on your nerves after a while! You’ll also find the link to their special offers page is broken, but thanks to a bit of cunning I’ve found it.