April - Madhuban

The table is booked!  We return to the Madhuban in Liss on Wednesday 12th April. It's one of the top Indian/Bengali restaurants in the area and it's renowned for its fine cooking. We last went there in May and enjoyed some great food. You can see some pictures of the evening on Instagram.  

Aperitifs will be at the Whistlestop (GU33 7DS for your SatNav) from about 7 p.m. and then dinner will be at 8 p.m.  

Please let me know either using the feedback page on our web site or by responding to the e-mail notice sent to members, whether you expect to make it or not. Hope to see many of our members there for a great evening! 

 Directions (Google): https://g.page/Madhubanrestaurant?share

November meeting - Shah Manzil, Liss

The table is booked!  Our November meeting will be on Tuesday 8th November at the Shah Manzil restaurant, 73 Station Road, Liss, close to the level crossing.  Aperitifs will be at the Whistlestop from about 7 pm and then dinner will be at 8 pm.

We haven't eaten at this restaurant under its current ownership. After a particularly rubbish evening in 2007 we scrubbed it from the list. At the time it was called Saaki, and we had no idea how it could class itself as a restaurant.  

I took a solo trip to try it out last week.  It's family run, brightly lit, fairly busy even midweek, and I was very pleased with my choices:

	Mixed starter including samosa, onion bhaji, seekh kebab,chicken tikka and a piece of fried paneer
	Lamb Anari Bakra (lamb cooked with hot spice and crushed red chillis), Hydrabadi Palak Dal (yellow lentils, cumin, garlic, spinach), pilau rice and a naan

Please let me know as soon as possible if you plan to attend, either using the feedback form on the web site or by responding to the email notice sent to members.  

Here's a Google Maps link: https://goo.gl/maps/FEvM3jqdZZjtBKTbA

Hope to see you on Tuesday 8th!

17th May - Madhuban!

AMENDED! Change of date

 The table is booked!  A trip to Madhuban in Liss is long overdue. It's one of the top Indian/Bengali restaurants in the area and it's renowned for its fine cooking. 

We last went there in April 2019, and our 2020 visit was cancelled due to the pandemic.  So at last - we return on Tuesday 17th May!  Aperitifs will be at the Whistlestop (GU33 7DS for your SatNav) from about 18:30 and then dinner is at 19:30.

Please let me know either using the feedback page on our web site or by responding to the e-mail notice sent to members, whether you expect to make it or not. Hope to see many of our members there for a great evening! 

 Directions (Google): https://g.page/Madhubanrestaurant?share

 

 

Wed 10th April - Madhuban!

The table is booked!  A trip to Madhuban in Liss is long overdue and it's time to put that right.  We'll do that on Wednesday 10th.  Aperitifs will be at the Spread Eagle from about 19:30 and then dinner is at 20:30.

We love the cooking and the welcome at Madhuban, and this is one not to be missed.

Please let me know either by using the feedback page on our web site or by responding to this e-mail, whether you expect to make it or not. Hope to see many of our members there for a great evening!

Tuesday 13th February - Madhuban

The table is booked!  After taking a month off in January, we're back in February with a trip to Madhuban in Liss.  Aperitifs will be at the Spread Eagle from about 19:30 and then dinner is at 20:30.

Yes, it's half term week, and Valentine's night on the 14th, but we love the cooking and the welcome at Madhuban, and this is one not to be missed.  Please let me know either by using the feedback page on our web site or by responding to the members' e-mail, whether you expect to make it or not.

Hope to see many of our members there for a great evening!

Madhuban - Wednesday 9th

The table is booked and confirmed!  August's Petersfield Curry Club meeting will be at Madhuban on Wednesday 9th.  We'll meet for aperitifs at the Spread Eagle from about 19:30 and then enjoy a short drive or stroll (weather permitting) up to the restaurant for dinner at 20:30. 

Please let me know either using the feedback page on the website or in reply to the notice sent to members whether you expect to make it or not.  To help plan, it would be helpful to hear by Monday night (7th).

I'm looking forward to this visit - Madhuban always impress with their fine cooking and attention to detail, as well as a friendly welcome.  Hope to see as many as possible next Wednesday.

Madhuban in January!

Happy New Year to all of our members!  We start 2017 with a visit to Madhuban, in Liss, on Tuesday 10th January.  Aperitifs will be at the Spread Eagle, Farnham Road, Liss from about 19:30 and then we'll arrive at the restaurant by 20:30 in time for dinner.   The Spread Eagle is a great pub with a magnificent log fire and good beers.  If instead you want to go direct to the restaurant, that's fine, but please let us know. 

Madhuban is an absolutely top restaurant, a big favourite, and we need a good idea of numbers as early as possible.  Members are asked please to reply to the e-mail notice by Monday 18:00 latest or use the feedback form on the web site to let us know your plans.

Looking forward to some fantastic food on Tuesday 10th, a great way to kick off the New Year.

Map giving directions to the Spread Eagle. The restaurant is on Station Road.

Madhuban - Tues 9th February

The table is booked - we're looking forward to our visit to sunny Liss and Madhuban on Tuesday 9th February.   Aperitifs will be at the Whistle Stop at about 19:30, and then we'll make the short journey across the railway line to Madhuban for dinner at 20:30.

This is our favourite venue for Curry Club meetings, it produces some truly great food, so we can expect a good turnout.  Members, please let me know  as soon as possible whether you expect to be there, either through the feedback page of the web site or in response to the members' notice e-mail.

Just a little note to members who sit waiting for their monthly e-mail: this notice on the blog page is always prepared first, and then I copy and paste it into an e-mail to send to you when I have time.  So you can often find out the details of the monthly meeting earlier if you check this page.  Looking forward to a great evening next Tuesday!

November meeting - Madhuban, Liss - Wed 12th

The table is booked, and after two meetings in Petersfield, we'll go to Liss for our November meeting.  The Madhuban is a huge favourite with our members and renowned for excellent food and a warm welcome.  Aperitifs will be at the Spread Eagle on Farnham Road from about 19:30 and then we'll make our way to the restaurant for dinner at 20:30.

Members will receive this notice by e-mail and are asked please to let us know as soon as possible yes, no or maybe - if the demand is big, we don't want to be short of places on the night.  If you prefer, please use the feedback page on the web site to let us know.

Christmas is coming, and our Amazon shop  has some suggestions for books about Indian food, 2015 eating and drinking guides, and lots of the usual Amazon goodies.  Every purchase can help earn a little for the Curry Club kitty, and as we no longer have a sponsor for the web site, it all helps.

Looking forward to a great evening and some fine food on Wednesday 12th!

Directions to the pub:

February meeting - Madhuban - Wed 12th

The table is booked, and February's meeting will take place on Wednesday 12th at Madhuban in Liss. Aperitifs will be at the Spreadeagle on Farnham Road, about 10 minutes' walk away, from about 19:30. Dinner will be at 20:30 as usual.

Obviously, we're in the dark, wet and nasty time of the year (a gale is howling as I write this), so a warm pub and then a warm curry will be particularly welcome. To help us get the arrangements right, please let me know if you expect to attend through the feedback page of our web site or by e-mail in response to the meeting notice.

Hoping that the rain stops soon, and we have a great evening!

Madhuban - 11th September

Considering that many of our regulars were away on holidays in various warmer parts of the world, we had an excellent turnout, on a wet and windy evening, for our second visit to Madhuban of 2013.  

Papadums always seem better with a choice of spicy pickles as well as milder chutneys, and we weren't disappointed - both lime and hot mango pickle were on offer for those that like them.  As usual, we asked the restaurant to select the dishes for the evening.  

First, we had a mixed starter of salmon tikka pakora, onion bhaji, shish kebab, huseini (chicken) kebab and chana aloo chat.  This gave a great selection of various flavours and was a great appetizer before the main courses.

After a milder selection last time, we asked the restaurant to warm things up a little.  They certainly did!  Main dishes were Chicken Korma Mirchwangan - medium hot dish in a deep red sauce - the red comes from various ingrdients including beetroot, tomato, red peppers and spices, Jungli Lamb - Madras hot, quite dry with red chilli, and Methi Lamb.  Vegetable dishes were Madras Sambar - South Indian hot and spicy vegetable and lentil curry with exotic curry leaf, and Panch mela (a dish of five vegetables).  All of these were accompanied by pilau rice, plain and garlic naans. This was a great selection of hot food, but maybe left one or two members behind in terms of heat and intensity. 

Madhuban continues to offer fine cooking accompanied by a warm welcome, and we had a thoroughly good evening.  Our plans for the rest of this year are as follows:

9th October - Paradise Balti, Petersfield
13th November - Chilli Night(s), Haslemere
11th December - Malabon, Petersfield

Madhuban - 11th September

The table is booked, and we're making a much-anticipated return to Madhuban on 11th September.  This was our venue in January, and we thought the standard of cooking was absolutely superb.  The details are as usual - we'll meet for aperitifs at the Spread Eagle at about 19:30, and then dinner at Madhuban will be at 20:30. 

As mentioned the review of our January meeting, Madhuban is listed in this year's Michelin Guide Great Britain & Ireland 2013: Hotels & Restaurants, still available from Amazon.

In case numbers are a problem, would members please let us know either by using the website feedback form or in reply to the meeting notice e-mail whether you expect to be there.

Looking forward to a great evening!


View Larger Map

Madhuban, 9th January

Happy New Year to all our members, and to start really well, what better place could we pick than the Madhuban, recently listed in the Michelin Guide for 2013?

We met at the Spreadeagle for a beer or two by the log fire, before making our way to the restaurant.  Despite the time of year, the weather was dry, so no problem for those of us on foot.  The restaurant was welcoming as ever, and after the first drinks and papadums had been served, came up with a delicious mixed starter that included chicken tikka, stuffed mushrooms, hussaini (chicken) kebab, sheek kebab, and onion bhaji.  I particularly like the fact that Madhuban serves a choice of spicy pickles with it papadums, and the stuffed mushrooms were delicious. 

There were three main meat courses.  The first, chicken korma Mirchwangan includes beetroot and so had a deep red sauce. Chicken tikka Darjeeling is made with a green marinade and is a favourite of many club members.  Finally a lamb with apricot (darjali ?) dish had deep and subtle flavours.  Vegetables included panch mela - five (or more?) mixed vegetables and sag aloo.

We thought the cooking was great.  It would have been good to have at least one hotter dish, but that's my fault.  All in all, it was a fine evening, and enjoyed by a record turnout for January.  

The chosen venue for February is Dhanmondi, in Whitehill.  That's on Wednesday 13th, so at least we don't have a direct clash with Valentine's Day!

Madhuban - 13th June

The table is booked - our June meeting is at the Madhuban, Liss, on Wednesday 13th. Aperitifs will be at the Spreadeagle from about 19:30.

I'll send the notice out to all of the e-mailing list as soon as my PC returns from the menders, but I'd like to hear from those that plan to attend as soon as possible. Please confirm using the feedback page on our website. Looking forward to a great evening!

Madhuban - January 2012

We enjoyed a convivial meeting on 11th January, even though the arrangements were slightly disturbed by the fact that the Bluebell Inn was closed.  A quick series of texts and phone calls let all our regulars know that we'd start at the Spreadeagle instead. On a slightly chilly and damp night, this was a very pleasant place to take our aperitifs.

Dinner was delayed a few minutes by the need to ferry those without cars up to the resturant, but we had a warm welcome from the staff at the Madhuban.  They selected a really interesting menu for our meal.  After papadums and a very good mixed starter, the main courses included Jungli Mas (lamb with bay leaves and red chillis), Korma Murchwangan (mild-to-medium chicken in a red sauce), Madhuban's special lamb, served in a balti, and a delicious mixed vegetable curry.  Pilau rice and naan breads accompanied.  Everyone was delighted with the range of great flavours and the sheer quality of the food. Nothing was excessively chilli-hot, so everyone could taste every dish.  It's worth a mention that the full menu (pdf download here) offers a whole range of tempting delights.  I'm plotting a return trip to try the Naga chilli stir fry. 

The Madhuban does everything to make your visit a great experience.  This was a fine way to spend a winter evening, and we'll visit again sooner rather than later.

Web: www.madhubanrestaurant.co.uk

Table booked for Wed 11th January - Madhuban, Liss

Happy New Year 2012 to all our members and friends! The table for the first meeting of the year is booked, at Madhuban, Liss on Wednesday 11th January at 20:30. Aperitifs will be at the Blue Bell (marked with an 'A' on the map below) from about 19:30. It's only a few minutes' walk to the restaurant.


View Larger Map
The confirmation e-mail has been sent to everyone on the mailing list, but you can also let us know if you're coming or not through the feedback page on our web site.

Madhuban is the outstanding Tandoori restaurant in our area and we look forward to this visit as a great way to start 2012's activities.  For your diary, the subsequent meetings are planned to be at Paradise Balti, Petersfield and Dhanmondi, Whitehill, on 8th Feb and 14th March respectively (correcting my earlier error).

June meeting, Madhuban, Liss - Wed 8th

The table is booked! June's meeting will be at Liss, with aperitifs at the Blue Bell from about 19:30, and then dinner will be at Madhuban at 20:30. Madhuban is a great restaurant; you can see some of the reviews from previous visits by clicking the title text of this message.

This is the one restaurant on our circuit that's deservedly a fixture in the Good Curry Guide, so to give us the best chance of fitting everyone in, please e-mail to let us know if you'll attend or not, or use the feedback form on our website.  Malcolm will be the organiser on the evening.  Enjoy!

September meeting report - Madhuban

We had a fine evening at the Madhuban in Liss on 9th September. The England football team had their decisive qualifying match for the 2010 FIFA World Cup, and so the place was very quiet. We didn't mind at all - our group that evening was made up mainly of Rugby fans; England had already taken the lead by the time we left the pub. Result never in doubt! The staff made us very welcome and put on a fine display of cooking.

Starters included salmon pakura, hussaini kebab (minced chicken), shish kebab and onion bhajis.

Main courses were jungli mass - a dryish but very tasty lamb dish, naga lamb (hot chilis here), chicken tikka Darjeeling massala (Lodue's favourite), achari chicken, slow cooked lamb with apricot, balichow chicken, panch mela (mixed vegetable curry). Rice, naan and dhal were the accompaniments.

Everything was delicious and beautifully presented. Despite the fact that it was still Ramadan, and the staff had been fasting until sunset (7:35 that evening), they put on a great meal - in fact some of the best cooking that we can remember at a Curry Club meeting. Madhuban goes from strength to strength, and we look forward to our next visit.

September meeting - Madhuban - Wed 9th

The table is booked! Our September meeting will be at Madhuban in Liss, on
Wednesday 9th. Please let me know if you'll be able to make it or not.
I've booked for 12, and if more want to come, we need to know sooner rather
than later.

Drinks will be at the Bluebell Inn, (map here) where Station Road meets
Farnham Road, from about 19:30.

Looking forward to a great evening!

The NEW Madhuban - Liss

Last Saturday evening was so busy, though there was a corner for Chris and I. Bedar Miah energetically runs front of house and he rushed to and fro, shaking hands, saluting old friends, scribbling orders, while his smiley staff of young male and female waiters served the throng. Lodue, his older brother, operated the bar, in a beige cashmere cardigan, looking every inch the well to do Asian gent.

A couple of Mango Lassis and poppadoms in, food arrived. Gorgeous Chana Aloo Chat tasting of roast garlic and tangy spices followed by creamy, rich, paprika tinged Korma Mirchiwangan. Plenty of lamb, added sweetness from beetroot and red pepper only a little cloying. Panch Mela, a buttery mixed vegetable curry and filling saffron rice too much - and not because I'd eaten all the excellent chilli and lime pickle.

The old Madhuban was my godfathers favourite Bangladeshi restaurant and we met again on Thursday. I enjoyed a good meal of Salmon Tikka, 4 pieces encrusted with red chilli tainted coating and Prawn Balichao, a genuine Goan speciality, tart, citric, reminiscent of Lime pickle and vinegar. In addition, Saag Paneer was mellow, mild and lovely.

So what of the new Madhuban (now beginning it's 21st year)? It's more roomy (despite being full to bursting on Thursday night, as it was on Saturday). It's lighter with a different kind of atmosphere, not as cosy but perhaps more convival. It has the same colourful menu, more choice (Korma Mirchiwangan, Panch Mela, Salmon Tikka and Prawn Balichao among the new additions) but higher prices (although it's still better value than other local curry houses). In SUMMARY standards haven't suffered, they may even have improved but only time and a few more gratuitous visits will decide.

FOOD: 4

SERVICE: 4
AMBIENCE: 4
VALUE: 4

Willp2328score: 8/10