On a chilly December day, what’s the best way to defeat the cold? Gloves, a hot chocolate, a hug from a close friend? Well, John O’Hara and myself decided we would see if a delicious, spicy curry could work just as well. So with empty stomachs full of promise, we made the short trip to Media City campus to Chapati Cafe just round the corner from Greggs.
Upon entering, the first thing you notice is the Cafe’s decor and overall aesthetic that matches beautifully with the enticing smell of spice from behind the counter. The staff are exceptionally friendly and do a good job of keeping their business clean and tidy.
But onto the food.
They have have a plethora of curry dishes, but the set list rotates daily so keep in mind that you won’t be able to get your favourite every day. Having said that, the options on offer are dynamic enough to let you leave satisfied with whichever choice you make.
On this my first visit to Chapatis (Tuesday), I elected for the lamb and spinach accompanied by the iconic duo, chips and rice, with a mango chutney slather to add some sweetness. The range of flavours in the curry, diverse as they were, all stood out and complimented the tender lamb pieces spectacularly. The perfectly seasoned chips were fresh out the fryer and created that much desired sweet and salty combo when topped with the chutney.
As for the rice, it was the perfect base for the whole dish and, despite the subtle flavour, brought the whole dish together.
With a 20 per cent student discount, this lunch cost £5.56 and gets a 9/10 for value. With one point deducted for the price of canned drinks.
The overall flavour was spot on, but I expected a bit more heat given the 1 chilly rating, 9/10.
As for the establishment itself, the staff were friendly and the shop was clean and tidy, but the space inside left something to be desired, 8/10.
And now, John’s take.
Chapati cafe has been a staple of my student life in Media City since I began having regular lectures here last year. Upon stumbling across it by accident, while trying to navigate my way to an entirely different shop my lunchtime experience in the Quays has been revolutionised.
Going from a humble Greggs or CO-OP meal deal to a curry, rice and chips combination that leaves my stomach feeling as full as a sold out show in a shoebox.
Today I ordered the chicken madras, a new one for me. I try and vary my order each time to avoid becoming fed up of anything and as of yet I have been successful as Chapati Cafe remains my number one for a cheap bite to eat on my University lunch break.
The chicken was moist and spicy, with the flavours bursting through with each concurrent bite I took. Moreover the chips are a delight, I don’t know what they put in them or how they cook them, but genuinely they are some of the best chips I have eaten. Even if you aren’t a fan of curry I recommend this place solely for this.
My lunch also cost a mere £5.56 and in my opinion it gets a 10/10 for value as for the meal you get there is no better, cheaper option to my knowledge within the vicinity.
The flavour and taste of the meal was unreal and I really enjoyed it, although I also expected more heat due to the two chilli heat rating. For me however, this is probably a good thing as I cannot handle super spicy food- you can also add chilli and coriander on at the end as well as your chutneys, therefore for taste it has to be another 10/10.
The staff and restaurant itself are both great, with a clean and friendly environment. There are only a few tables for customers to eat in, but with the amount of offices and apartments around I assume they rarely ever need more seating than they have, 8/10.
Overall, we were both definitely less cold and certainly more than satisfied, with an average of 9/10 overall. Not a meal out, but rather a delectable choice for lunch.
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