This was our first visit to Purple Manago. A
colleague mentioned that this was her regular curry spot, so I
consciously knew I would make that call and place a booking for
two. This restaurant in Walnut Tree looks enticing from the
outside. What is a Purple Mango anyway? Even Google could not
help me. Not much can be found online about this restaurant but
we were still excited about giving it a try.
Décor
First impressions count for a lot and I am
pleased to say we made an excellent start as Purple Mango is
stylish, modern and fantastic looking. It looks as though the
restaurant has just been opened. The art deco is colourful and
individually painted canvases line the walls. The neon lights
offer a futuristic look. The restaurant is unusual in that it is
hexagon shaped but it feels welcoming all the same.
Service
Shaz our waiter for the evening introduced
himself with a huge smile and kindly showed us to a large table
for two. Our napkins were placed down onto our laps as we took
our steats. Shaz was polite all evening and clearly enjoys
looking after his diners. He’s worked at Purple Mango for seven
months and is still having a great time. He suggested many
dishes to try and gave us plenty of insight into their flavours,
aromas and textures. Shaz was prompt and friendly.
Food
After a good 15 minutes my guest picked the same
old same chicken tikka masala (£7.25) which came in a long oval
plate and smelt gorgeous. She also ordered pilau rice (£1.95)
fluffy and hot, garnished with tiny fried onions, and just to
prove me wrong, she also ordered not a plain Naan, but the
cheese and garlic variety (£2.50). This arrived fluffy, crisp
and tasted supreme. See! It’s good to make a change sometimes,
even if it is just the bread selection. My guest certainly
enjoyed her food and completely loved the flavours.
I normally order a Thali when phoning through a
takeaway. As I scanned the large menu I noticed the Purple mango
offered Thali on their specials section (£19.99). These seemed a
tad steep in price but I soon realised that you do receive a lot
of food for your money.
A Thali is a selection of different
dishes, usually served in small bowls on a round tray consisting of regional dishes. If you like a mixture of food or
a buffet you’ll love this main course. Many restaurants have
different types of these dishes on offer. In this instance my
Thali included a butter-flied king prawn cooked in a tan door,
pilau rice, chicken madras, prawn with spinach and lentils, dan
sac, cool yoghurt and a lamb dish.
I also received a free naan
on the side. This dish is different to most as it arrives on a
13-inch wooden table that spins. All of the flavours worked well
together, many containing coriander. The prawns came charcoaled
and cooked through leaving them meaty and tender. This Thali was
great!
Atmosphere
The background music was subtle and Ibiza like
(the chill out type of course). Thursdays and Sundays are
heaving with people as they book for the special curry night for
£9.99. This is well worth a try!
The Purple Mango is an interesting place that
offers many dishes, and many flavours. Make a visit as soon as
you fancy that curry. |
