Pride of Asia, 207 Mile End Road, Stepney Green, London

        This used to be a decent curry restaurant which shut about 2 years or so ago.  It used to sell decent curries that were well cooked though not always as hot as I might like.

 

I awaited the reopening of the Pride of Asia this Tuesday with great interest.  Sadly, I was sorely disappointed.

 

The Pride of Asia now calls itself a "Grille Restaurant".  It sells Barbecued chicken, Sikh Kebabs, Lamb Chops, and something they call 'White Chicken'".

 

This seems to be one of the latest crazes in local Bangladeshi restaurants, and there are at least 3 others within 100 yards selling very similar food, but these other places also sell curry though it is generally extremely greasy!

 

At the Pride of Asia I asked for a half of barbecue chicken which came with a rather soggy Nan bread and limp lettuce with some equally sad tomatoes.  They wanted £6 for this and the scabby chicken had hardly any meat.

 

I also asked for Sikh Kebabs.  These are the sausage shaped Indian style kebabs made from mince and spices.  I got 6 short pieces of kebab which equated to about 3 that you would more usually get in a typical take away or restaurant.  Again, a portion of limp salad but this time with mint sauce.  they also wanted £6.00 for this.  So in general the food was no better than that served in the array of scummy greasy chicken places that dominate the Stepney Green part of Mile End Road.  It was about 50 % more expensive however.  The person who served me came up with the excuse that the Pride of Asia is a restaurant so it is more expensive.

 

They are just copying the poor quality of the local food in surroundings that look nicer.  I will not be back there unless there are considerable changes and would advise all who read this to avoid this place and other local emporiums such as the Real Taste of Halal, the Halal Barbecue and Grille and a range of perfect fried chicken shops that also sell curry.  You can also check out the Spice hut and the Spice Cottage if you really insist!  For me by the way the Spice Cottage is just about the best of these places as it does a few different dishes and curries have been consistently tolerable though a bit greasy still.

 

These are places where local Bangladeshis seem to eat regularly.   Usually I think that, for example, if people from Pakistan like a Pakistani restaurant it is likely to be quite good.  .  This does not seem to apply to Bangladeshis in Stepney Green and the surrounding area.   here I prefer eating in a more traditional drunks' curry house such as the Passage to India which is at least consistent.

 

Yes as you gather I think Pride of Asia is very poor!  can't give it more than 3 out of 10 I'm afraid and they should be thankful that it's morning and I'm not tired or in a bad pessimistic mood!!!