An ‘all you can eat’ buffet is a bit like a conversation with your grandparents. You have them from time to time, but there comes a point when you just can’t take any more.
This is very much the feeling at Salt ‘N’ Pepper.
The restaurant is on City Road and is surrounded by a range of other curry houses and takeaways. Inside, is a large and spacious dining area, with a central counter from which you choose your food.
"Authentic" Salt 'N' Pepper
The food was in a series of metal containers, which were positioned around a small area where the chef was preparing some of the dishes. A nice touch.
The first plate of food I got comprised of Sag Aloo, a chickpea ‘mash-up’, Seekh Kebab, Naan bread and multi-coloured prawn crackers, which were just bizarre.
I tentatively went up for seconds. The next plate of food I got consisted of Chicken Chilli Masala, which just resembled a basic chicken stew. Also on the plate were fish Pakora‘s and Pilau rice; the only redeeming components of an otherwise disappointing buffet experience.
Usually, at an ‘all you can eat’ buffet, you stop eating because you cannot physically eat anymore. But there is a part of you that feels guilty for not exploiting the offer. Perhaps because you feel you are wasting the opportunity.
But at Salt N Pepper, I wasn’t full and there was no part of me that felt guilty for not taking advantage of the unlimited amount of food. I just wanted to go home.
My friend said to me afterwards: “Yes well it did the job.” A meal out for £9, shouldn’t just “do the job.” I wasn’t expecting a fine dining experience, but I was expecting a meal which I didn’t regret.
This all culminated with the waiter charging us for the use of a glass for our ‘bring your own booze’! Unbelievable.
Indian buffets can be brilliant and I have been to a few which really are, but if the food is sub-standard with the prices still fairly competitive, as ‘all you can eat’ buffet prices go, then it just falls flat on its face.
Money Spent: £8.99 ( plus £1 for the glass)
Rating: 3/10
The Restaurant Review 