The Pakora is a wonderful and sad time for me.
One of the owners Ash, I knew from when he was at the Mango Lounge up in Stockport, and once I found him at the Pakora I was set on my favourite place to eat out.
If I had written this review early last year I would have given it 5 stars without even batting an eyelid.
Between Ash and Bob (the other owner) they had created in my opinion the greatest curry house on the planet. The Service with impeccable, the Food cooked to perfection.
The Venue is a brilliant merging of Modern decour and disco/pimp feel, from the velvety wall seats (and the Orange Room) to the Swirling Water Wall Feature, things (maybe don't stare at them after a few Vino's) topped with a menu of imaginatively named dishes like Aneka Rice, or Prawn McCartney. The place isn't cheesey don't be misled by my starting description, the place doesn't feel cheap or trashy, it feels classy and welcoming.
The Food as I've said is fantastic, and the levels of spice match perfectly to the dish you're ordering, and without batting an eyelid the staff are happy for you to order something and ask for it to be taken up a notch or toned down a little.
On the Beer front, then have your usual suspects, and they also have one you may not have come across 'Lal Toofan' like most indian beers it is similar to Cobra but I do think its different enough, and if you're in there I would happily nod you to it over the Cobra.
The Service is sadly where my sad times occur, when the place was young and I first started going there, the Service was impeccable, staff were attentive without being in your face, staying near the bar but constantly looking for anyone who may need something, and when food came out they wouldn't ask who ordered what, they just knew even when in large groups (I've been just two of us and up to 14). However over the last year the service in my opinion has dropped considerably, it has become very slow and in some cases I have ended up feeling quite embarrassed having taken many friends and family there raving about the food, only to be sat there staring into my pint glass while they tap the table (the "worst" occasion being from seating, 20 minutes before someone asked us if we wanted any drinks, then a further 10 for food orders, 40 minutes for starters to arrive and then a further 60 minutes from the starter being cleared away to the main coming out and that was when there were only 4 of us so not a large table with lots of dishes, plus the restaurant was not busy on that particular night).
I feel it is a shame to give this place only 4 stars, but when I go out for a meal its is the whole package I am going for not just the food, and I'm currently torn between 4 stars and 3 stars due to the service, but the food is so damned good.
I will keep going back to the Pakora every now and then to see if the Service returns to its previous highs, I don't concern myself about the food because it has always been excellent, and if you've got an evening to use and are in no rush then you must try the curry here, but always book, as it does get busy even during the weekdays
Something that is very important to note about the Pakora is the Map on Yelp has it in completely the wrong place, its not near Stepping Hill Hospital in Hazel Grove, its in the centre of Poynton read more
