Cafe India

I’ve been in here a few times now and my first experience was the best out of all 3. Every time since then they seemed to have got slightly worse…
Most recent visit was last weekend after a wee jaunt to The Stand comedy club where due to the length of time you’re in there (nearly 4 hours) by the time it comes to leaving I am always (99% of the time) hungry! So having recently had a couple of bad experiences in Barbeque Kings & other chippys on Great Western Road I opted for Café India. We walked in and were the only customers in there and firstly the guys serving looked as miserable as SIN! They didn’t even serve us straight away as they were having a wee chat amongst themselves… aye, don’t mind us paying customers will ya! *sigh* Then we ordered the standard late night I-might-be-slightly-tipsy-but-i’m-not-drunk-honest-guv fare: La Fromage et Pomme de Frites ~ chips n cheese to us non-​Frenchies. Sometimes, when I am in these types of places, late at night, ordering the delicious delicacy of chips & cheese I do feel as though these dudes are judging me straight away… these guys also did that very same thing — they heavily sighed, rolling their eyes whilst taking our money (it’s not particularly cheap in here either) thinking ‘Here we go… more pished students not wanting our delicious curries but fuppin’ chips & cheese! Bah!’ Well, firstly I’m NOT a student and neither of us was drunk so ner-​ner. Maybe we just like the TASTE of C+C mister. Hmph.
Being the classy lady I am (of course, yo) I am not really one who enjoys partaking in the eating of the greasy foods in public — sometimes I will have to out of sheer HUNGER but if I am within at least 15mins walk/​bus/​train/​taxi from home then I wait patiently. We got home and we did have to re-​heat them slightly and they were okay — not great, not terrible. The chips were a bit overdone and mega greasy/​crispy which I didn’t like but the cheese was nice, although my boyfriend found some random salad bits in his… s’nice!
Maybe the first couple of times I came here & ate their food I was actually more drunk than I thought and that’s the only reason I enjoyed my food but I doubt it. Apparently the kebabs are good here but I have to say the last time we were in the place was pretty manky — the floor had bits of food lying about & I noticed the bottom of the chiller cabinets were filthy *shudder* Almost put me off eating my food (takes a lot to put me off!) So I suspect their hygiene standards aren’t too high… maybe I am wrong but from a customers point of view standing in that place at a time when it wasn’t busy and probably hadn’t even been busy for some time (this was pre-​pub or club kick-​out time) they could have at least give the floors a wee sweep & clean down their dirty cabinets.
I would say it’s put me off going back but I will no doubt end up in here again at some point in the need for C+C…hopefully next time they’ll be slightly more polite & have given the place a wee (much needed) spruce up.

I had chicken curry with rice for a takeout. The service was quick and I had two very large boxes of curry and rice. The curry tasted a little funky at first but overall it was very rich and creamy. The chicken was quite standard. The rice, on the other hand, came with a large portion. The price was okay, not too pricey but also not cheap.

I pass this place a LOT and frequently pop in for some chicken pakora and peshwari naan. A-​MAZ-​ING! It’s my favourite pakora and naan in any indian restaurant so far.
(NOTE: though… I have to say, I ordered take away once and was really disappointed in the naan and pakora by the time it arrived… definitely worth walking over there to try it!!! I’ve taken several friends for the walk. Dang, salivating now).
Fun little place, you can’t sit in, only take-​away. Not my favourite Garlic Chilli Chicken. :(

Lovely food and very good service. May take some time but well worth it.

Ah… chips + cheese, you don’t come as a surprise after an evening of gin tasting, followed by pints at the Belle. Just your standard takeaway, dishing out Indian eats, as well as burgers and pizzas. Came here with a bad case of alcohol-​induced munchies, and walked away with a box of chips + cheese for £2.50. Quick and efficient, it satisfied that serious craving for something fatty and salty. We hippity hopped back across the road to our mates’ flat with our boxes in hand, happy (and drunk) as can be! Lumberjack — being from the East Coast — was rather disappointed at the lack of brown sauce, though!

I’ve only been to Café India once, mostly for financial reasons, but I pass it everyday and everyday the smell wafting out the door triggers a reaction in my brain to start salivating like a bull dog. Needless to say when I finally went in my expectations were high, perhaps too high, and I was disappointed to see that the chicken pakora was just sitting under the glass on display along with an assortment of other things. It was microwaved to the boiling point of steel and that was that. At least they’re honest about it I suppose.
Onto the food itself though, and it was perfectly standard Indian take-​away scran. That’s all. I wouldn’t be complaining about standard Indian at standard prices had I not been seduced so many times by a smell that turned my legs to jelly, but that is the danger of high expectations.
All in all, I’ll be back some time as I make my way home from GUU or Viper or anywhere else on Great Western, unless there’s enough money burning a hole in my pocket to justify going to the more upmarket Barbecue Kings just down the road.

It’s funny that, despite its close proximity to my house, rarely do I frequent Café India prior to 2am. Never, in fact. With so many delectable curry houses nearby there’s just no need.
However, for whatever reason when I find myself ambling down Great Western Road at this time, something about the ailing neon sign and the grubby interior seems utterly irresistible. Before I know it, I’m escorting two blue plastic bags full of more food than I’ve eaten in the past 48 hours home having fallen victim, once again, to the hard sell:
Employee: «Ah the jalfrezi, you’ll need two naans with that.»
Me: «Really?»
Employee: «Yes, and some boiled rice.»
Me: «Eh ok.»
Employee: «In fact I should probably put in some chapatis too.»
Me: «No thank you.»
Employee: «Yes.»
Me: «Ok.»
My friends have sworn off this place, complaining of churning guts and accompanying stomach cramps on too many morning afters, although I feel this probably has more to do with the events preceding than the meal itself. When it comes down to it, Café India isn’t really a proprietor of meals that were designed for 2am. They just provide the food, and they cook it right in front of your eyes. Don’t shoot the messenger, I say.

As far as Indian Takeaways go we ain’t in that sort supply in this area. I have used this place quite a few times for no other reason than the influence of a flier through the door and have found it to be pretty damn good, hence the order and re order of grub.
Located on the Byres Road end of Great Western Road, this takeaway does the usual Indian fare at the usual Indian prices, there is definitely no intention of reinventing the wheel here. Anyway, its decent grub, good delivery times and reasonable service…
Not much more to say really, if you fancy some Indian nosh then give them a bell or order online. oh they also take credit cards which is handy for those among us that don’t know what real money looks like anymore.

a bog standard little indian takeaway, but this happens to be my weapon of choice on great western road — good selection of food, open late, and always tasty.