Saffron

21 Castillian Street, Northampton

Northampton is not short of Indian restaurants some of which are standard fare, others offer a little more specialising in particular cuisines such as Bangladeshi and Nepalese meals alongside more familiar dishes. Some time ago we had ordered a takeaway from this restaurant but were not impressed enough to switch allegiances from our more local favourites however colleagues and friends suggested we gave it another go.

The restaurant’s own advertising states ‘...you are sure to receive the warmest of welcomes whatever time you dine.’ Unfortunately this proved the first in a series of uncomfortable events throughout our short meal. When asked if they had a table for two advising we hadn’t booked, the waiter seemed unsure before he led us to a table, half-heartedly pulled out a chair and wandered off. We seated ourselves as another server wrestled with pulling ornately folded napkins out of their rings before unceremoniously launching the now unfolded masterpieces vaguely towards our lap areas.

By then we’d had chance to consider the decor which was modern, clean and appealing but we felt, somewhat spoilt by the amount of self serving press clippings bearing the endorsements of past local panto stars; as if no curry could garner our favour had it not passed muster with Bobby Davro having a post show bhaji.

Drink orders were taken and menus provided we settled to choose our dishes, I for one feeling awkward was not inclined towards a starter, already feeling like the uninvited guest turning up at dinnertime.

My partner chose the cinnamon duck with a keema nan, I opted for a dish described as their ‘best selling’, a Chicken Hariyo Khursani, chicken pieces marinated in green chillies and cooked in a spicy sauce with a side of pilau rice. The chicken dish was a generous serving but the flavour was that of a spicy generic tikka masala with a touch of a well known brand of tomato soup to the sauce, albeit the chillies gave it a firmer kick. The duck however was a delight, beautifully spiced and served in a wonderful silky smooth sauce with the excellent keema being both crispy and moist.

Somewhat off putting was the intimacy to the couple next to us, pleasant as they appeared the enforced intimacy hindered conversation, particularly as my next door companion ordered the Naga and with every mouthful of this hot dish sniffed as the inevitable nose run began.
Meal finished we requested the bill. While I was underwhelmed enough with the service to leave just the cost, my partner had enjoyed the duck so we placed our money in the folder on the table. My partner had already walked toward the door while I was putting my coat on so didn’t witness the strangest part of the evening. The server in his haste to retrieve our payment pounced towards our table requiring me to jump out of his way. Horrified I joined my partner outside too stunned to go back and complain.

So would we go back? In short, no. There are very good Indian restaurants providing exciting authentic dishes where the service is as important as the food however I think my partner may find a way of getting the duck dish without me.

The Italian Job



Papa Cino’s Review

I generally steer clear of Italian restaurants as I don’t eat pasta or pizza but colleagues at work recommended this restaurant and there was much more to the menu so we gave it a go.
The cellar restaurant is on the corner of Fish Street and Dychurch Lane right in the town centre.

Walking down the steps I wanted to love it. I have great memories of some lovely cellar restaurants I’ve visited in the past, they feel somehow exclusive, tucked away below ground as many people wander straight past the low-key doorways, unaware of the activity going on below . We were greeted by friendly staff creating a warm atmosphere, although the lack of air conditioning on an already warm evening may have added to this somewhat.

The decor is almost comically dated, as if a set designer on Doctor Who had been asked to recreate a seventies mediterranean eatery with the budget of whatever they could find down the back of the sofa.  The restaurant feels quite cramped, with little space between tables compromising privacy. We were seated next to the metal railings separating the entrance and the dining area which did leave us feeling a little like caged in monkeys. We were, thankfully, able to repress the urge to fling our own faeces at passers by.

My companion and I are not the most decisive when it comes to food and wine, often leaving the waiting staff doing just that, but the waiter suggested a bottle of white wine which was superb and wasn’t drowned out by the subsequent food choices of duck and lamb with which I would normally have chosen a richer red number.

Anyway, on to the food. The simple duck salad as a starter was substantial but tasty and refreshing with a zesty dressing while my partner had goats cheese crostini, simple but delicious, again a very generous serving

The chosen mains arrived swiftly, duck confit and slow cooked lamb in red wine and rosemary jus both served with smooth garlic mash. I have attempted the red wine and rosemary combo on several occasions and it’s easy to overdo the rosemary making sauces medicinal but this was perfect, rich and glossy and moreish. The lamb was enormous so unwillingly I had to sacrifice the garlic mash.



The duck confit once again was plentiful, perfectly cooked and paired well with the savoury garlic mash. I had worried the cranberry jus may be over sweet but it was well balanced and I devoured the plateful in what I’ll assume is a new world record.





Desserts once again were overlooked, we can rarely manage a three course meal, especially when they are this generous but friends have said they are definitely worth a go if you have a sweet tooth and some room left.

The meal came to around £42 excluding the wine that we both feel was excellent value but what impressed me most was the staff and the service. They were delightful, funny and charming and knowledgeable about their product.  The decor may be more dated than ancient Rome but I loved the service and food. It’s a shame the building has not been maintained to the same standards as the food but we had a fantastic evening.