Purple Pakora - Poynton

T 01625 878 878
A 9 London Road South, Poynton, Stockport, SK12 1JX
W http://www.purplepakora.com/

On Wednesday 14th January we visited the Purple Pakora Restaurant in Poynton. The curry had originally been scheduled for the Khandoker in Parrs Wood by Paul Day. However following a bout of stomach pain, nausea, diarrhoea and vomiting Paul decided he wouldn’t commit himself. The currycouncil therefore switched the venue in the best interests to those actually attending.

Failure to attend

This isn’t the first time a council member has failed to attend due to a stomach bug. Previous members include Gaz Jordan, Andrew Hague (several) and Paul Day.

In light of the increased counts recorded recently Currycouncil.com today reveals a number of quick fire treatments for stomach infections:

• Limit your food intake
• Drink plenty of fluids
• Take over-the-counter medications—Medications to relieve diarrhoea, nausea, abdominal cramping, and fever.
• Get plenty of rest

Important! If symptoms persist, or last longer than five days, you should see your doctor. The pains could be a sign of another, more serious condition that will require medication or other types of medical treatment.

“impressive and unusual “bubble pool effect” wall feature”

In attendance were Dave Marchbank-Smith, Stephen Winfield, Steven Woodman, Andrew Hague and Chris Marchbank-Smith. The latter arriving late due to college commitments. On arrival we were escorted to the front table in the restaurant and were immediately focused on the impressive and unusual “bubble pool effect” wall feature – running down the length of the restaurant.

Keema rice - a hit

The cutlery and décor were ultra modern and impressive. The menu shared many similarities with its associated restaurant- Jalfrezi in Bramhall. It contained a vast choice of dishes with comedic entries such as Anneka Rice and a selection of 70’s favorites. The Princess Jalfrezi was snapped up by Winfield and Marchbank-Smith jnr. Senior MS opted to sample the keema rice which was ravaged by the entire council on its arrival. A blend of pilau rice mixed with fresh spring onion, spices and keema was appreciated by all. It’s a shame we only ordered one.

The end of a Legend

The main talking point of the night, without question related to the end of what was once a Currycouncil legend. The 14th January 2009 marked the end of Martin Noble’s 100% attendance record. Up until today he had amazingly attended EVERY single curry arranged since the inauguration of the Currycouncil.

This incredible feat came to an end when he opted to attend a Premiership match between Manchester United and the mighty Wigan Athletic. United one won nil on the night taking them to second place in the table behind Liverpool. Only he will know whether the visit to Old Trafford to witness a solitary Wayne Rooney strike was worthy of sacrificing his perfect attendance record.

The council members suspect not. Our fellow diners and staff at the Pakora were also somewhat surprised at Nobles decision as can be seen in the pictures (click to enlarge).

The restaurant was pleasantly busy and as a result the service was rather slow. Possibly not helped by the fact we were taking pictures of the waiters? Popodums arrived with a crispy coleslaw (with sweetcorn), spicy chilli dip, onion and mango chutney. These were accompanied with 5 pints of Draught Cobra lager, which hit the spot.



Woody and his "pizza pop"

The leisurely service worked in Chris’s favor as he arrived thirty minutes late and still didn’t miss out on the pops or the starter. After a quick chat about Fantasy Football the mixed starter and sizzling starters arrived. They were of a very high standard and bridged the gap nicely between pops and main. Hague and Woodman opting for the mixed “because the sizzler came with a chop” – the chop was tasty but on the small side.

“Good food – served well”

Our enforced later-dining-time may not have suited all parties and as we approached 10pm a number of Council belts were loosened, as the main courses duly arrived. In keeping with the modern surroundings the service was impeccable. This was keenly demonstrated on arrival of the main event; the mains. The waiters appeared to make a genuine effort to please as the main courses were presented correctly to the person who ordered that specific dish, without asking the diners.


For the first time in curry history only peshwari naan breads were ordered, there was no place for keema, garlic or plain on this occasion. The Princess Jalrezi was declared hot and mouthwatering. The Chicken Madras was on the medium side of hot – but thoroughly enjoyed by DMS. Portion sizes were generous throughout all the dishes.

Conclusion

The Purple Pakora is a swanky, upbeat restaurant. Larger parties can be catered for in a special private booth suited towards the rear of the restaurant. This would ideally suit parties of between 10-12 providing a private and cozy dining experience.

The staff were welcoming and attentive, without being too full on. We thoroughly enjoyed our first experience at the Purple Pakora and look forward to revisiting in the near future.

Food 9/10
Service 9/10
Atmosphere 8.5/10
Value for money 8/10
Originality 9/10

Overall 8.7/10

Other Purple Pakora Articles

• November 2009 Purple Pakora Review here
• Currycouncil.com Restaurant Of The Year 2009 - here
• Currycouncil awards feature in local newspaper - here
• Purple Pakora Opening Soon - here