Masala

51 The Pantiles, Royal Tunbridge Wells
Kent TN2 5TE 01892 616700

We were spoilt for choice by the dazzling array of food on the menu; interesting dishes that we had never heard of before, and were keen to try, and the food was delicious. Well, that's what WOULD have happened had we gone to the Raj Pavillion, but we decided at the last minute to try previously unchartered territory, so Masala it was.
I have a great keenness for museums, so Masala should have been right up my street, because it's been about ten years since I've seen an Indian menu this old school. Tikka this, Masala that, Biryani this, and nothing in between. But if they wanted to change the food, they would have to reprint new menus, which they were obviously loathe to do, judging by the amount of tippex and biro we had to contend with. Still, just because the menu's a bit on the uninspiring side, it doesn't mean the food's going to be bad, does it?
It did take us ages to decide what we wanted because there just wasn't anything which particularly grabbed us, but I went for the mixed grill for starters, leaving the wife to go for the "Murug 65", which may sound like a Kurt Vonnegut novel, but in fact was a creamy mound of chicken and chickpeas. Mine was great - lovely, tender chicken, light, tasty bhajis and a perfect samosa. The wife's was "ho hum".
For the mains, I went for the "house special" of chicken masala, and the wife went for the chicken pasanda. Mine was a tomato based dish, thank goodness, because my wife's creamy dish had definitely, as I put it "turned the corner". She gamely ate one piece of chicken, but left the rest in its curdled deathbed, and stuck to the flabby naan instead. What both dishes had in common was that they tasted of absolutely nothing whatsoever, but did leave a bit of a kick in the back of the throat upon swallowing. Maybe their spices are past their use-by dates; they should get down to the Asian Supermarket down Grosvenor Road and get some new stock in, it's quite cheap in there. Rice was okay.
Puds were the usual "Punky Toy"/"Fabuloso"/sorbet in an orange or lemon/ice cream in a little bottle of liqueur type things (you know the drill), so we didn't bother.
We did manage to laugh through our pain, though. We particularly liked the strapline on the menu: "management refuses the right to serve anyone without reason", and just to make us feel even more at ease, each section of the mains was headed "rice is a required extra". Mercifully they didn't throw my wife out for not wanting any rice, so that was a relief. We were also rather tickled by our Cobras being served in a man-sized glass for me and a dainty half size glass for the little lady.
Would I recommend? Well, I suppose it's quite nice to sit at the window and look out over the Pantiles on a nice summer evening, as long as you stick to grilled food and avoid anything in a sauce. But even better still, just have a pint and a bowl of nuts over the road at the Ragged Trousers.
Let us know what you think.

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Comments

[James]

We went to Masala ooh must be 3 years ago now... and had pretty much the same quality of meal as you did... in addition we found the service very rushed with waiters hovering to whisk away your plate straight after the starter, just to plonk down the next course almost straight away. Avoided ever since!

[Katy Pending]

I have been eating hear since they first opened in 2004 and i say what most people of Tunbridge Wells say "Masala is one of the best fetchers of the Town". Food, service and interior is always excellent. With there extensive menu you get a proper chose rather then the other Indian restaurants in the town that are just not up to the same standard.

Definitely one to go too.

[Anke]

Thanks Katy, but is there any reason why under a completely different name, but from the same computer, you are leaving a comment on the Raj Pavillion review telling people it's rubbish and to go to Masala? I have a sneaking suspicion that you are the owners of/working at Masala.

[Rob N]

I can only assume that "Katy" above is trapped in a late 70s/ early 80s timewarp.

We visited the Masala some time ago and found, as you did, that the menu selection was very old-fashioned and uninspiring and that the food itself once served was of barely acceptable quality.

The Raj Pavilion, Mooli, Shiraz and Spice Club are all FAR better. So was the Himalayan Gurkha (and hopefully will be again!).

[Manny]

Hello Agian, not been here for a while so thought I would have my say :-)

I agree never been impressed by Masala been there a couple of time over the past few years, can't say its been bad but neither have I left saying that was fantastic.

I can however recommend Kirthon (not seen a review from our Anke friends, so thought was worth a plug), opposite Masala for a curry on the Pantiles, although an occasional stroppy waiter doesn't take away from the excellent food, we also always get our take aways from here too.

Manny