Akbar's Restaurant - Manchester

Mal (26 October 2009)

We had to wait for a table for about thirty minutes, which enabled us to have a drink, and it wasn't a problem. It’s a bustling restaurant, more suited to a lively night out with friends rather than a quiet intimate meal for two - the eighteenth birthday party who insisted on repeated tuneless renditions of 'happy birthday to you' became irritating after a while. The food was excellent and I tried the 'Chefs challenge' which offered a free sweet to anybody completing, unassisted, a trio of a large portion of a delicious mixed balti, pulau rice and a naan bread. The curry and rice would have been quite easy to finish, however the naan was huge, so consequently I failed miserably! I was so full however that the free sweet would have been wasted anyway. Overall, great food and reasonable prices made for an excellent meal.

Mancunian (29 December 2008)

I work nearby to Akbar’s and was keen to try since they opened. I have been there many times, sometimes going as often as once a week. It was brave to open away from both Rusholme and the city centre, but it doesn’t seem to have had any problems being busy virtually every night of the week. The restaurant always has a busy atmosphere, but if you like it quieter go around 7pm to miss the crowds. You can be seated in the bar area at peak times up to an hour but in my experience the food has always been worth the wait.

Once seated the staff are attentive and the courses flow one after another. The food is good if you know what you like and what to order. For example, with the starters avoid the chicken with cheese, its plain bland. Try instead the delicately spiced chicken pakora, the excellent lamb chops or the prawn and chicken puri. Mains are a matter of taste; I’ve never had a bad one yet. Order ‘Asian style’ for added spice if that’s what you like. I can’t comment on the desserts as I have never tried one. The bill is always a pleasant surprise, unless you do what I do and over-order to takeaway breakfast for the following day. Like any restaurant sometimes the food is not as great or the service is poor, but having been there many times my experience as a whole is good and I would recommend this restaurant.

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