Pakeezah Food2Go

Boy we are greedy!  Ordered just a little too much at Pakeezah Food2Go today!

However, walking into Pakeezah Food2Go when feeling hungry, with all the food on show in the counter, the smells and the hustle and bustle, it's easy to get carried away.  So on top of the splendid Samosa Chaats, I had an additional Lamb Shawarma, and Lynda went the whole hog with Lamb Chops on a Naan with all the trimmings!  

Now that's what I call a massive bowl of Samosa Chaat...

Well what can I say?  Brilliant as always.  The Samosa Chaats alone were massive!  But as we know, size isn't everything, and the well documented quality of Pakkezah's Samosa Chaat was much in evidence today. Lashings of chickpea, tamarind and yoghurt smothered the tasty crushed samosas.  The fresh onions, chilli and garam masala garnish added the fresh zing and fire.  It's all things to all men - blow your head of heat one mouthful, cooling yoghurt the next, sour the next, crunchy the next, etc, etc.  A must try I reckon.

Lamb Chops on Naan with all the trimmings.

Once the Chaat was finished off, and already feeling a little pogged, the Chops on Naan arrived!  Four amply proportioned, excellent quality, mouth wateringly freshly grilled, and tasty chops, on an equally freshly tandoored naan, with all the trimming, arrived!  It was fantastic.

Not strictly curry related so won't comment too much on the Shawarma, but it was also excellent. Quite keen on these at the moment, and often have them from a local shop near my work.  They are tasty.

One thing we noticed today more than others was the clientele. For a start, Pakeezah was heaving.  Also, it seemed a place to meet for business as well as just socially.  We noticed boys from Aakash Balti, in vibrant pink polo shirts, and also I'm pretty sure Omar Khan - restaurateur, businessman and one time saviour of Bradford Bull - was in!  They were obviously missing out the middleman and going straight to the source of great VFM Bradford fodder.

NEW Pakeezah Food2Go Cafe

From the ashes of the recently fire damaged Ingleby Road branch of the Pakeezah Supermarket, rises a mighty Phoenix in the form of the Food2Go Cafeteria on Manningham Lane.

We first became aware of the Pakeezah Food2Go concept first simply through word of mouth, then through visiting the in-store eateries.  Although kind of glorified supermarket cafes, the Pakeezah Food2Go ones were excellent.  Pre-made curry heated up, but with fresh bread and grilled stuff.  An excellent idea.

Curry Deli Counter

So, now, the new Food2Go cafe is now open on Manningham Lane, and has taken the original supermarket cafe a step further... basically by ditching the supermarket bit!  On entering, a large deli style counter greats you immediately, and is stuffed full of say twenty ready made chilled curries!  These can be either bought and taken home or heated and eaten in.  Great stuff.  Then behind are the tandors and grill etc.  At one end (see picture above) are a few chiller and freezer cabinets with other stuff such as lassi, dips, chutneys, etc.  No sweet counter though I noticed?

Samosa Chat

For this, our what I'm sure is going to be the first of many visits, we popped in for a basic nosy and a quick dinner, so rather than one of the tasty looking full blown curries, me and the Mrs went for our favorite Samosa Chat.  It was fantastic here as it always was - not that was any reason it wouldn't be.  Now presented on trendy rectangular platters, it remained the same very tasty crushed samosas smothered in chickpea and potato curry, yogurt and sour tamarind.  I went for hot - so in addition had a generous scattering of chili and raw onion, and BANG!  It was hot!  Brilliant.  We also had lassi and a Falooda.  Izzy had chips.  TUT!

So if you've not ever been to the Pakeezah cafes in the supermarkets before, then now there is no excuse. They really are worth a go.  Not a  restaurant experience, but very good quality, plenty of variety, and brilliant value for money.  You can eat your dinner then take home another meal for your tea!  Double bonus.