This is an OK enough curry café and kebab shop near the centre of Bolton, doing takeaway but also with plenty of covers to sit in.
For those of us in the know, 'rice and three' is about as clear a business name as you can get for a curry café! The pricing here is 3.50-5.30GBP depending on whether all or none of your three chosen curries are vegetarian.
Rice was A-OK, as was the fresh tandoor chapati. And I'm starting to realise the importance of serving fresh chapati or naan on a basket rather than a plate - put a slice of fresh toast on a plate to see how one soggy the downside becomes and you will get my point! As a Muslim-owned place, vegetarian choices on the bain marie are as usual playing second fiddle to the 'main dishes'. However, red kidney beans were one choice when I visited, with my other two choices being channa and spinach (from tinned spinach). There was also a potato curry, and I see online references to a Friday aubergine curry.
All of what I had was OK, but I continue to feel various gripes with curry café offerings - not enough vegetarian choice, generic sauces as opposed to a feeling of the component fresh ingredients shining through, and heartburn for the rest of the afternoon from the chili powder.
However, this is a tight ship as curry cafés go. It seems to be a lively Arab hangout for everyone from young dating couples to grandparents. It's clean, including plenty of toilets (each with lota!) upstairs.
Maybe I will go back on a Friday for aubergine curry. Maybe if you like meat kebabs and curries or are Muslim in Bolton this could be a regular place for you. Good luck, Rice N Three! read more