205 High Street, Lye, Stourbridge, West Midlands DY9 8Jz

Message from Yellowfingers Webmasters:

Hmmmmm……starting to smell a……

If restaurant owners or staff want to big up their restaurants -not a problem, but please be honest about it. Sell yourselves, its free advertising for your venue I guess- the public will also review and let us know if you’re really good or not.

A few of the following reviews are from similar email addresses, but with different reviewer names…..I’ll review it myself with an impartial review as soon as I can folks…apologies if any of the following are genuine.

….anyway Visitor review from David Earnshaw:

I visited this restaurant tonight , it was a busy Friday night and i hadnt booked and when i arrived the restaurant was virtually, but i was found a table for one immediately and even though the place was heaving service was excellant and so was my food , fresh,oil free and very pleasant.
My cobra beer was also excellant .
AN EXCELLANT PLACE TO TRY

Rating:

Visitor review by John Jason Rogers

We visited this restaurant last night for the first time and where astounded at the high quality of food,service and decor.
We hadnt booked but where found a table immediately, drinks where ordered and arrived promptly, all the staff where very attentive and our food arrived it was probably the best indian meal i have ever had, fresh tasting, herby with a rich sauce in my curry , very little oil and it was a absolute pleasure and wifey confirmed hers was the same .
First time but definitely not the last time .
P.s the restaurant and toilets are spotless which is also a bonus.

Rating:

Visitor review by Peter Jameson

I visited garam masala on saturday at 7pm , the place was heaving , we hadnt booked but where asked to take a seat in their lounge until a table became available.
We indulged in two pints of cobra whilst waiting which was just a few minutes.
The decor and ambience is amazing with a huge bar and 100′s of bottles of liquor.
The moment we where seated a platter of poppadoms and condiments arrived wich was accompanied by a wonderful lime pickle.
Absolutely fabulous
We ordered our meals ,chicken tikka bhuna and lamb jalfrezi which arrived promptly and where excellant with lots of fresh flavours as was our nans and rice.
Visiting the toilets is a plus here, they are of a really high standard,better than most of the 5* hotels ive visited.
The price for this veritable feast including drinks 20 quid
A total bargain

Visitor review by Kiran Kaur

I visited this restaurant last night, the restaurant is absolutely stunning with spacious tables and a huge bar.
All the food was lovely , really pleasant and fresh.
The staff where very accomodating and service was exceptional.
Definitely a place we will go back to time after time.

Visitor review by Sam Houston:

I visit this restaurant at least once a week
It is a little more expensive than most of the others in Lye, but the quality of the food is exceptional as well as service.
Its a no rush type of restaurant where u can imerse yourself in the ambience of real Indian food with one of the England’s largest liquor bars.
They claim to have over 1000 different varieties in stock.
carling,strongbow and john smiths all at 1pound a pint.
All the food is cooked only after you order it but thats not a problem coz you can indulge in a few drinks.
BEST FOOD BEST SERVICE
P.S checkout the loo’s absolutely fab.

58 Bridgnorth Rd, Wollaston, Stourbridge, DY8 3QG

58 Bridgnorth Rd, Wollaston, Stourbridge, DY8 3QG

Reviewed by Susan:

I’ve visited Bangla Touch several times before and each time have been impressed with both the service, and quality of food. The outside of the building, with its blacked out windows and tawdry, flashing ‘Open’ sign don’t paint the picture of the nicely decorated, bright and friendly atmosphere that greets you once inside.

On this occasion I visited Bangla Touch with 3 others. We did not have starters but opted for poppadoms. The poppadoms arrived relatively quickly even though the restaurant was full to bursting with telephone orders coming through all of the time.

Bangla Touch is fully licensed, with a pint of Cobra (a perfect accompaniment to a hot curry) priced at? ?2.00, a veritable bargain! Once the drinks had arrived we spent at least fifteen minutes discussing the menu as there was so much to choose from, and so many interesting dishes and ingredients. I opted for the Kodu Hash, which is a combination of duck breast, pumpkin and onions in a medium spiced sauce. I would recommend this dish to anyone who likes the spicy flavour without the heat of, say, a madras. I was particularly impressed with this dish as there was plenty of duck, rather than all sauce, and it was easy to tell that it had been cooked fresh rather than reheated.

My friends chose a Bengali fish dish from the house specials, a chicken saagwalla and a balti lamb/mushroom dhansak combination dish. The combination dish is a fantastic idea that lets you try two dishes, and the portions are on the large side. I wouldn’t recommend the Bengali fish, not because it was badly cooked, but purely because the fish itself is quite watery and tasteless. My only disappointment with this restaurants food was that they use tinned mushrooms rather than fresh, which is a let down when everything else is top-class.

Overall a really good quality restaurant with fresh produce and excellent service.They even have a guest book so you can leave comments of your own.

Licensed

Rating:

64 Windmill Hill, Halesowen, B63 2BZ

64 Windmill Hill, Halesowen, B63 2BZ

People say you always remember where you were when Elvis Presley died.

Well, believe it or not -I was in Vakas!

…or what was to become Vakas, anyway.

It used to be my moms friends greengrocery shop where she had a job serving on Wednesdays back in the seventies. Nowadays its one of Colley Gates’ two long established Balti houses (The other being ‘Chinnar’, just down the road).

It’s had a small recent refurbishment to make it more contemporary – new high-back chairs, trendy wood tables, you know the score.

I have avoided it in recent times due to a visit around 10 years ago where a curry I had was very tomato based.

I’m happy to report that my visit last night was better, a cheap and cheerful curry house with some main courses being? just over a fiver!.

I had a Balti Chicken Tikka and Prawn (silver plated bowl- l like the old wok black style ones) and it was pretty good, nothing mind-blowing – just good. Not too tomatoey, a bit peppery, well cooked with plenty of prawns and chicken. My Onion Bhaji came in the flat Pattie stylie and was crispy, not too stodgy with an underlying spice heat. The Chappatis were crispy in places (a good thing in my book) and large enough for me to use as a scoop till my balti dish (silver plated….) was empty.

There are friendly waiting staff who are happy to be of service and exchange polite banter with you.

It’s never going to win any Michelin stars but who cares. A good example of a real style Balti house that has no big pretentions and you gets what you pays for.

Its bright, relaxed and the piped asian music is not too loud (however if it too loud, your too old )

Its Unlicensed so take your own booze in.

Rating:

62, High Street,Wollaston, Stourbridge, West Midlands DY8 4NJ

Tel: 01384 373703

Visitor review from Matt:

We always go here with friends from work. Always fantastic food and great value. Good atmosphere and friendly staff.
The best Indian restaurant in the black country in my opinion

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Visitor Review by Mr. Paul Edington:

Wonderful Restaurant, food was fantastic the chicken pardesi was excellent. 15 of us went and the customer service was great, one of the best restaurant in Stourbridge. Recommended for all.

Review- Yellowfingers:

Copyright P L Chadwick and licensed for reuse under this Creative Commons Licence

Another ex public house converted in an Indian Restaurant, this time the old ‘Bulls Head’ in High Street Wollaston (thus making the number of Indian restaurants in Wollaston three -not including three takeways that I know of alone). This restaurant is owned and shares the name of the long established and busy Indian take away ‘Red Forte’ just round the corner on the Bridgnorth road.

Copyright P L Chadwick and licensed for reuse under this Creative Commons Licence

Excellent creamy raita to pour onto starters and dip crispy popadoms into.

To begin I had a Nargis kebab, which was perfect.

I followed this by a dish called Chicken Pardesi which was truly fantastic, a Chicken Tikka and Prawn curry with Green Peppers, excellently flavoured, and with just the right heat. I complimented this with two Chapatis.

My wife had a Badami Makhani ,nutty sweet, mild and creamy – ‘pudding’ as I call it, while my neice had a Nawabi Tandoori Chicken Massala. This contains Chicken and minced Lamb in a rich curry sauce.

She used to be a vegetarian, obviously not anymore then…

The waiting staff were great, very friendly and this place is worth a visit.

Unlicensed

Website

The_Red_Forte_Takeaway_Menu

Rating:

166-167 Lower High Street Stourbridge DY8 1TT

Tel: 01384 444 829

Update of review from 2009.

Since our last visit in 2009, which was? little indifferent (you can search for it using the search box to the right), I can report we have returned since and enjoyed a superb meal here, and as such I am upping it from three stars to four.

Ask when you visit for a cellar table downstairs for the full ‘Cellars’ experience.

Licensed

Rating:

22 Dudley Road. Brierley Hill, West Midlands, DY5 1LH 01384 77233

Click for map

About 20 years ago, this restaurant was one of the few Balti restaurants outside of the Balti Belt and Lye held with any real regard.

Back in the day it had glass topped tables, with menus underneath and a real ‘transport cafe’/sweet centre feel to it. In other words, an authentic ‘real’ balti house.

Back then, in my opinion it was one of the best, and visiting in 2010 can confirm that although those tables have been replaced by more modern examples and decor, if you want a cheap Balti, it still is one of the best.

I’ll tell you why.

There are things, subtle differences, in Royal Adeel that you just don’t find anywhere else. Starting with the way, unchanged since my last visit all those years ago, they present the complimentary onion and yoghurt dip. The stuff you would get with popadums normally? Well here it comes sans said big crisps,and as a free starter instead…onions in a yoghurt mint sauce that you use as dip. In go your fingers, out come the onions. In all honesty the sauce was a little sharp. But I’m not docking points for that…

I’ll tell you why in a bit…

On the menu there are Sheesh kebabs for 85 p.

Yes, 85p.

Less then one English pound.

They are no frills. No salad. You just get one. And Microwaved for speed. You’d think this is a bad thing? Well maybe, but one was just enough, it was lovely and spicy, so I’m still not docking points.

I’ll tell you why next…..

Its the flavour of the actual Baltis themselves (oh yeah, did I mention that this was a real balti house? The menu is specifically balti related). They are unique. I can’t really explain. I’ll try. Hows ‘rich and gratifying” sound? Full of flavour. Not too much sauce, plenty of meat and/or veg. Unchanged in the last 20 years and still as good. More-ish. Delicious. Different. Hows that?

Oh yeah, and the naans taste different too, floury, not too sweet, not so much ghee involved, at least on the plain ones anyhow, just ‘different’ and not at all in a bad way.

If in Brierley Hill on an evening, for me, this is my restaurant of choice.

There are two new establishments just opened down the road for me to try, and for you to maybe be tempted by, but really, at the moment, I still have ‘Royal Adeel’ so why go anywhere else?

Recommended.

Unlicensed

Rating:

19 High Street, Stourbridge, West Midlands DY9 8LB Tel: 01384 893322

19 High Street, Stourbridge, West Midlands DY9 8LB

Reviewed by my sister:

“hya Andy

Rating:

42 Dudley Road, Stourbridge, DY9 8EA Tel: 013…

This venue was recommended to us as a potential Bengal Fusion beater in the Lye – Its not, but it is rather good.

These days, a lot of the restauranteurs are taking advantage of the sad closure of many of our midland (or is it national ) public houses, and this balti house resides in the converted ‘Swan with Two Necks’ pub on the Dudley Road, on the way from Lye to the Merry Hill Shopping centre.

The food is well presented and the quality is up there. I chose a Nargis Kebab starter which was OK, the mince a little dry but very edible.

I followed this up with a Chicken Tikka Mattar -Chicken and Keema curry -yum!

Its very bright inside, and I suppose as its quite ‘open plan’, its not so suited maybe if you want a romantic meal for two -but I could say the same for Bengal Fusion, and thats great too, so no points docked. I think its more suited for family/friends parties, which is just what we were having.

Of special note, I must mention the popadums -some of the lightest, crispiest I have had in a while -do try.

The fish tank is centre piece in the main dining area -but no, you can’t pick your ‘Tandoori Fish’ from there. Nice tropical fish though, which seemed to attract the attention of the children in the restaurant.

The service was excellent, not that slow, and neither did we feel at all rushed, considering our visit ocurred on February Saturday night.

Althought its a converted pub, its unlicensed so take your own alcoholic drinks in if you wish.

Overall, not bad at all.

Unlicensed

Rating:

121, Bridgnorth Rd, Wollaston, Stourbridge, West Midlands DY8 3NX

Tel: 01384 392788

This licensed restaurant is always popular and as ever was packed to capacity on Friday night so always best to book.

A recent return vist saw me order the deliciously crispy Onion Bahjees, a personal favourite of mine, followed by the simply so -over -the – top- its brilliant Korai Chicken Tikka Masalla – a dish containing not only Chicken Tikka (natch) but also keema mince. Whats not to like…

The staff are polite and always at hand, and once you have finished your meal a complimentary small drink is often served to enhance the experience of dining here.

I can whole heartedly recommend a visit to East One.

Rating:

178-179 High Street, Lye, Stourbridge DY9 8LH

“Don’t be in a hurry, if you come to Harrys” is what I have been advised my lead-off to this review should be by my Cousin, who suggested we try this contemporary restaurant yesterday evening.

The food is superb, and as the restaurant and staff are apparently ex ‘Laxys Of Lye’, this is of no wonder. I chose a Tikka Dansak as below.

Its well presented and cannot be faulted at all for quality. Delicious main courses are completed by nan breads, which come sweet and fluffy.

It was a busy evening straight after Christmas , and on entering I noticed the restaurant was at least three-quaters full. There was a party of at least twenty by the door who were being looked after by the staff and all the time people were calling for take-aways.

Now all this would be fine if seated customers were served within a reasonable time, but these places must decide who they are catering for, because a wait of an hour for a customer to be – not served – but just for their order to be taken, while take -away customers come and go, is dreadful, to be honest.

I truly believe that if you want a take-away, you should go to a take-away and not buy one from a sit-down restaurant. Restaurants , I think should serve seated customers in PREFERENCE to take-away cusomers, or not offer this service at all from the restaurant, because no-one really wants to wait over an hour for food.

We had to chase the restaurant staff just to get them to take our order, so this is something this restaurant need to take on board.

However once we got through this stage, it was served by polite and understanding staff, so its not all bad news.

Its not licenced so bring your own, but bring a lot of it because you could be in it for the long haul.

Website

Menu