Blackrod: Sagar
6:14pm Friday 29th February 2008
With my occasional craving for Indian food nagging away at me, a decision was made to visit the long established Blackrod restaurant Sagar.
Sagar, in Church Street, offers an extensive choice of traditional Indian cuisine together with a range of specials and the management also claim they are more than happy for the chef to specially prepare any dish to the customer's requirements.
Late on Sunday evening, the restaurant was very quiet, with only a couple of tables occupied.
The dining area is modern in design and well lit, with comfortable booths down each side. The obligatory poppadums soon arrived and were accompanied with a tray of chutneys and accompaniments the size of a dustbin lid.
I was a little disappointed to be charged extra for a request of lime pickle, although it was excellent.
The usual array of starters are priced in the £2-£4 range, with a couple of more expensive and usual dishes such as stuffed khumbi deep fried mushroom and salmon in black pepper, garlic and cinnamon on the menu.
Sagar caters well for vegetarians, all main dishes have a vegetable option which means an unusually wide choice. A dish of aloo gobi massalla was a delicate dish of spiced potato and cauliflower in a rich and spicy cream sauce.
A kharai main course of off-the-bone tandoori chicken came to the table in a sizzling metal pot, it was well seasoned with spices and included a lovely fresh herb hit of coriander and bayleaves.
Main dishes are priced between £8-£12 and all with boiled rice or chips.
Sagar boasts a varied wine list and a range of beers.
Service was friendly and unobtrusive in a way that you would expect from this established local favourite. How did it fare? (out if six stars): Food 5, drink 4, service 5, atmosphere 3, Value 4