Westbourne Tandoori

42 Seamoor Road, Bournemouth. Tel: 01202 767142

Opinion seems to be divided amongst our friends on which one is the best in Westbourne. I prefer the Taj Mahal but others prefer the Westbourne Tandoori.

After boxing day we fancied getting out for a meal instead of languishing around the flat and headed off for a curry. So did a few big families which meant by around 8pm the place was pretty packed.

After the popadoms, which uncharacteristically didn't come with mint sauce, but did have some bright blood red sauce though, I had chicken pakora and Angela had the mixed kebab. There was loads of the mixed kebab but my pakora were a bit of a disappointment, in terms of being pakora. It was basically dipped in breadcrumbs and fried when I was expecting it to be in the more usual pakora type batter.

Anyway, I enjoyed the main courses a lot better. The next day as well, seeing as we only ate about half of it as we were so stuff.

My king prawn bhuna was really good. Angela's Chicken dupiaza was OK.

One thing that does annoy me is the UK insistance on having chicken breast meat all the time for their curries. This leads to dry chunks of tasteless meat which annoys the hell out of me. It's OK for a whole breast for Chicken Tandoori but it gets a bit repititious for a curry.

Their Sag Paneer was excellent I thought. Very creamy.

Westbourne does have a good range of restaurant with all of them very good but Taj Mahal pips it for me.

Since writing the initial review we have been back many times. Actually I haven't been to the Taj Mahal for a long time seing as our visiting friends always want to come here. I have to say I have warmed to the place. It can get really busy at times and early on as well.

Now and then when I don't fancy a full on meat affair I will just order some rice, and 2 or 3 side dishes and that makes a nice meal in itself. </update>