TASTE BUDS
Max Gastro’s
Restaurant Review ASDA A t a rather posh dinner party a few weeks ago I observed to the titled hostess just how authentic her Katsu Japanese curry tasted and, whilst unconventionally matched, mentioned the accompanying Delhi Dal Makhani had added to the culinary experience markedly. ‘”Oh, all down to my little Asdah dahling” she murmured in Chipping Norton
Intrigued, a week later I ventured into the green-themed brightly-lit BOGOF world she’d recommended and found, to my delight, an amazing range of cultural foods, spices and sauces at bargain-basement prices, including said Japanese Katsu sauce (with a separate spice canister on top) at just £1.30. Bought that. Ok, one’s fellow shoppers can sometimes be challenging but for I naturally thought she was value and variety, eclectic foods and referring to her Japanese chef own-brand choice I have to say it’s or nanny and went to look for actually pretty good. him/her in the kitchen, only to Whilst visiting I noticed an discover a collection of empty jars anonymous staircase to the left of of Asda’s own Katsu curry sauce the entrance, leading to the Asda Café. Intrigued, I was surprised on the worktop and quite a few by the size and cleanliness of the depleted packs of the popular near-empty first floor eatery and I Indian bean curry in the bin. bravely furthered the cause of my supermarket Full English Breakfast tones, “complete discovery dear, do try when able…” They also serve great coffee, I naturally thought she was lunches, sides, cakes and much referring to her Japanese chef or more, with the opportunity to nanny and went to look for him/ sit by the panoramic window her in the kitchen, only to discover and gaze in wonder over the a collection of empty jars of Asda’s bargains amongst the fruit and own Katsu curry sauce on the worktop and quite a few depleted veg area below – it doesn’t get packs of the popular Indian bean much better folks.. curry in the bin. comparators, ordering the ’12But surely she was a discerning item’ plateful with toast for a quite Waitrose shopper, not a patron remarkable £5.50. of the er, somewhat proletariatWithin minutes my freshlypatronised supermarket at (in our cooked order arrived and armed case) the other end of Rivergate in with complimentary HP sauce I the City; what had she discovered?
West Rivergate Shopping Centre, Peterborough PE1 1ET set about it. It was actually very good. Although perhaps not to the Morrison’s award-winning standard reported upon in a previous issue, I thought it well cooked and tasty, flavoursome and very satisfying – pretty much what a FEB is all about. To satisfy pedants: the 12 ‘items’ are 2x bacon, 3x sausages, tomatoes, 2x hash browns, mushrooms, 2x eggs and baked beans. They also serve great coffee, lunches, sides, cakes and much more, with the opportunity to sit by the panoramic window and gaze in wonder over the bargains amongst the fruit and veg area below – it doesn’t get much better folks. Well, yes, alright I suppose it does, but next time you’re in town pop in and dip a toe into the aisles and a fork into the first-floor food, I guarantee you’ll be rewarded.
Max's STAR RATING
***
****
FOOD
VALUE
****
**
SERVICE (self)
ATMOSPHERE
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