The last time I visited the Lord Scarsdale on New Zealand lane in Duffield it was an old fashioned estate pub, so I was intrigued to see how Duffields latest Indian restaurant offering o-kra, was going to dispel this image.
You enter the building through what feels like a side entrance. The current trend for dramatic restaurant entrances was ignored or overlooked here, however once inside you immediately notice the completely transformed interior. Out with plain walls, bog-standard furniture and a brightly lit interior, in comes plush aubergine sofas, fabric room dividers and mood lighting.
We sank into the large sofa cushions and ordered some drinks as I scanned the restaurant. They had made good use of the space and gone down the “café crème” colour route (various hues of browns and cream), although a bit dated it was modern and cosy. The toilets had been given particular attention with contemporary hand basins, stone tiling and an abundance of mini hand towels. Still the best way to dry your hands in my opinion.
Papadums and pickles were ordered by mother (for some reason papadums aren’t on the menu?) followed by Murg Achari Tikka (£4.95) for me and Fish Malibar (£4.95) for sister. For mains I went for Chicken Tikka Dupiaza (£8.95), mother Roast Lamb Lazeez (£10.95) and sister Chicken Balti (£9.95).
In my experience papadums usually arrive at the table before you have chance to say “chicken tikka masala” so to wait nearly half an hour was frustrating to say the least.
Five or ten minutes later our starters arrived. Considering there was only about a dozen dinners this evening, service was sinfully slow. Mains arrived in due course, but the time from ordering to mains arriving, was now ridiculous.
Without going into every dish in detail I can say that the food was certainly acceptable. Clean, hot plates, well presented starters and a good meat ratio in the main curries. This is a stylish addition to Derby’s curry scene and certainly makes Duffield “curry capital” of north Derby. It’s the slow, dull and un-responsive service where they fall short. The place oozes incompetence at the front of house and at the time of going to press the web site didn’t work either.
Sort it out guys and you’ll have your Duffield and Quarndon jet-set camping out here.
Food 6/10
Service 4/10
Venue 7/10
Tel: 01332 841156
http://www.okra.org.uk/
Wednesday, May 14, 2008
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