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Baba Palace, Near North

Krista — Tue, 09 Aug 2011 14:00:38 +0000

I want to love Baba Palace because they were so sweet to me. I dropped in on my walk home from work one evening — I really do need to walk home more — knowing there was no food at home and I really should feed myself. I knew Baba’s was an Indian and Pakistani place, and I am a fan of all things Indian and Pakistani. But there on the menu — all over the menu — is falafel and stuff. And you might know I like my falafel too. So I was a little confused and conflicted, but after talking it over with the guys at the counter, they suggested a chicken dish from the Indian/Pakistani menu. Honestly, I have no idea what sort of chicken dish it was. I thought they said Chicken Masala, but it was like no Chicken Masala I’ve ever had so maybe my memory is out of whack.

While I was waiting for my meal, I soaked in the atmosphere.

That’s a joke, by the way.

And then it was time for me to go and get my food. (Baba’s offers counter-service only, apparently.) I must apologize to my nail technician who was on the other end of my garlic naan bread breath approximately 45 minutes after my visit to Baba’s. Sorry! The chicken was good. It wasn’t bad. It was like eating someone’s grandmother’s food. You just can’t say no to it, you know? It’s hard to point at faults because the guy behind the counter — Baba himself?? — was just so darned sweet and wanted me to like my food so badly.

The Verdict. Sigh.

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Needoo Grill, Whitechapel

Krista — Wed, 24 Mar 2010 09:30:00 +0000

Needoo Grill
87 New Road
E1 1HH

Date of Last Visit: Saturday, March 6, 2010

The Victims: Feathers, Matt, Anna, Kellie, James, Jen, Leigh

The Background: It's Feathers' birthday. Sort of. She had to go to Dubai for work for her real birthday, so we're having a catch-up celebration. She had this idea of going to Tayyabs with eight people on a Saturday night. I told her she was crazy. So we easily secured a place at Tayyabs' copycat, Needoo Grill.

The Entrance: We have a booking for 9 p.m. We're there by 9:05 p.m. and have to wait about 10 minutes for our table. There's really no place to wait at Needoo (neither is there at Tayyabs), so this was kinda annoying.

The Table: We're downstairs in the basement, and it's smoky. Like someone has been grilling lamb chops downstairs or something. The place is packed, which isn't helping. It's smoky and HOT.

The Ordering: Somewhat chaotic. We somehow managed to order like 20 naans. Whoops.

The Food: The lamp chops are anemic. Part of me has to assume they get their meat from the same place as Tayyabs, but something's just not right. Also, all the meat is disturbingly wet. I mean, moist is good, but I just feel so much messier here than I do at Tayyabs. If I'd never been to the Big T, maybe this would be okay. But it's not. The seekh kebabs are good. And the aubergine daal is nice…it's my favorite dish of the night. But overall…I am left wanting…wanting Tayyabs.

The Bill: Super-cheap. I want to say we go out of here for about £15 per person.

The Verdict: For reasons I won't get into here because it seems kinda unfair–but you'll know about if you follow me on Twitter–I won't be going back to Needoo in the near-term. I prefer Tayyabs.

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Pakistani: Tayyabs

Krista — Mon, 26 Feb 2007 18:37:00 +0000

83-89 Fieldgate St
E1 1JU
Tel: 020 7247 6400

Date of Last Visit: Sunday, 18 February 2007

The Victims: Michael, Chris, Evelien

The Damage: £12 each

The Background: I don’t know why I haven’t written about Tayyabs sooner. Tayyabs was one of the first restaurants I ever went to back when I first moved over in 2004. My friend Rutton swears by their food, as do many people out there on the Internet. It’s kinda crazy how much bigger the restaurant is now than it was in 2004.

In a way, though, I know exactly why I haven’t written about Tayyabs. It’s because I don’t want you to go there. I don’t want you to eat any of the seekh kebabs or the karahi gosht or the tinda masala or well, the seekh kebabs.

The Verdict: No mango lassis for you! They’re mine. All mine.

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