No orange oil at the Raj Pavillions...

There are few things better than a proper curry after a couple of good ales. So after sampling some of The Inn on the Green's best (actually, only a half, plus several samples of some of their huge array at the bar) , the newly selected Conservative prospective MP for Kingswood
and I thought it only right and proper to observe a great British tradition and go for a curry.

Little did we know as pushed open the door of the Raj Pavillions on Filton Road that we were about to have one of the best curries either of us has tasted. I'm not a great adventurer when it comes to curry. I'm not too keen on the layers of mysterious orange oil slick that heavily-sauced curries sometimes float in, so tend to opt for a slim-line and unadventurous chicken tikka. No sauce. But something called a Chicken Handi caught my eye.

It was when Sanjay, the waiter, (far left!) came up and advised us on choice of rice that we suspected we were in for more than your average post-pint curry. "Most of my customers don't need a menu" he told us. "They usually ask me to advise them on what's good to have." And the handi was very good. No orange oil slick, just a richness of layers and layers of real flavour. Fantastic.

The Raj Pavillions has been around for almost 30 years. If you've not been there yet, go. Tomorrow. Now if you must. And don't worry about the menu - Sanjay knows what he's talking about. They do sit-down meals and take-away next door. But because the food's so light on the orange-oil, be warned. In an hour's time you'll have recovered and be wanting more...

Raj Pavillions - 14 Filton Road, Horfield, Bristol - tel. 0117 951 9799 / 0117 9513310

Know of another top curry spot in Bristol? let me know!