THE BILASH, HIGHERLAND, NEWCASTLE, STAFFS ST5 2TL TEL 01782 636287
Went to the Bilash on the Higherland, Newcastle (just outside town centre on the Keele Road) with a mate on 19th Feb 2005. Had already supped a few pints during the day and had failed to get a table at the New Royal Balti in Audley, so plumped for a local curry. Evening pubs visited this Saturday evening were the Boat and Horses and the Old Brown Jug. Then wandered up on a very cold night to this out-of-town establishment.
The Bilash has been around for a long time and is
more of your traditional Indian restaurant and is fully licensed. It is similar
to the Koh I Noor in Newcastle and has a good reputation for reliability.
There's lots of tables (or do you say "covers" in these reviews?), so
even on a Saturday night there was plenty of room.
Cobra was on draught so ordered an early pint.
Papadoms and chutneys were ordered but took some time to arrive. The boss man
noticed after about 10 mins that we were waiting and sloped off to give someone
a bollocking, but it must have been another 15 minutes before the (palatable)
papadoms arrived. Didn't ask for the Lime Pickle (wimp!) so don't know if it's
available, but I would think so.
The main courses arrived more promptly and as usual
were presented in trays and on those table-warmer things, not in woks. As it's
been a couple of weeks since going there and probably due to aforementioned
session, I can't remember exactly what we ordered, but can remember that it was
good! The nan breads are fairly small, but with a rice each, one was enough.
The toilets are due for a revamp, but there's
worse. The staff were pleasant enough and there was the bonus of an attractive
wine/drinks waitress - hence had to go for a second Cobra.
The bill was OK, I think, prices are about average.
On the way out, spotted Phil Heywood in a corner
with the missus - he says he goes there regularly and rates it highly, so he
may do a more accurate review.
There is a good pub across the road - the Waggon
and Horses (has a couple of real ales on) and another 50 yards up the road -
the Sneyd Arms - but haven't been in this one for a few years. It always used
to be a Bass/Worthington pub with no other choice.
So there you have it - and having read through it
again it sounds more like a pub review than a curry one, but maybe on the day
the curry was secondary!
Midweek Tone