Bowling, Beer & Curry
After work we I headed, as part of a large group, for some 10 pin bowling at Edinburgh’s Fountainbridge complex. It wasn’t too busy while we were there from around 6pm to 8pm; although we had booked five lines in advance. The ‘clientele’ in the venue seemed to be mainly young persons, and some of them looking rather ‘ned-esque’. Still it’s a good set up there and they have a decent bar so you can enjoy a nice pint on the bowling lanes. They also have many american pool tables, although they’re £1.20 a go, air hockey tables and some arcade games. All in all a typical bowling alley, and there’s not much choice in those stakes in Edinburgh…
Afterwards we all headed for a curry at Omar Khayyam on Grosvenor St in Edinburgh. This is just near the Haymarket train station and opposite the Haymarket pub. We first had to wait on some seats, that I think waiting take-away customers usually use, while they prepared a table large enough to accomodate us all. The restaurant looks a little run down from the outside but its fine indoors: they even have a running water fountain as the centre piece. The menu was fairly extensive with everything you would expect and some house specialities. I opted for the usual Chicken Bhuna, Pilau Rice and a plain nan. Oh and a few pints of Kingfisher lager, which was nice. I was less than impressed with the service e.g. I asked the waiter how large the portion sizes were and if it were worth ordering a side dish such as Sag Aloo. I seemed unable to get a straight answer from him. Anyhow, the curry arrived and it was ok. Just ok. It was a safe curry and one that was comfortable to eat, but never exciting. It oozed complacency and seemed a run of the mill, comfortable curry. Nothing more and nothing less. The nan bread spanned a large surface area, but was very thin. The rice portion wasn’t huge and I wouldn’t call the curry amount generous (although I do have a rather large appetite, especially after some beer!). There certainly wasn’t much chicken in it. All in all there was nothing to recommend the place for, and although I’m not sure of the exact cost (we each payed just over £20) it seemed an expensive choice for an average curry. I can see why people would go here for its standard atmosphere and standard/reliable curry, but I don’t think they will have my custom again. There are certainly better currys to be had in Edinburgh!
