Review: Shaha Jol, Clayton-le-Moors (From Lancashire Telegraph)

Review: Shaha Jol, Clayton-le-Moors

4:29pm Thursday 12th May 2011 in Hyndburn takeaways

Address: Whalley Road, Clayton-le-Moors Telephone number: 01254 237 297

Lancashire Telegraph review by Anna Mansell from April 01, 2011

THE decor may have been a touch ‘chintzy living room’, but the sights and smells of the meals being put together at Shaha Joli were a real treat.

A spotless open kitchen was on show, with a large team of chefs all working away.

Unfortunately the taste didn’t live up to the mouth-watering scent of spices and fresh produce which were on display.

We tried the Options set meal for two, choosing onion bhaji and vegetable samosa to start, followed by chicken korma and chicken tikka Bengal massala – with ‘coconut and a touch of garden mint’, pilau and boiled rice, and plain naan, all for £14.50.

The bhaji were large, crisp and not greasy – a nice change to the small, oily offerings you get from many places, while I really enjoyed the big chunks of fresh vegetables in the samosa.

The mains had lots of good sized pieces of tender chicken, but the sauces just didn’t live up to much; yes, I know, korma is mild but this very pale dish was really lacking in taste beyond its creaminess.

I’d been looking forward to a slightly minty variation on a tikka massala, but when they said ’a touch’ I guess they were serious.

We would go back as it was good value, with some nice touches, but I’d definitely make different choices and opt for stronger flavours.