Curry Wars: Akbars vs EastZEast

Gordo was taken aback a year ago by the naan bread at EastZEast, the recent winner of The Evil Empire restaurant awards. Hung up on what looks like torture apparatus, they are the size of the windbreaks that Gordo’s Granny used on Blackpool beach. A conversation stopper, dead tasty as well. EastZEast is well documented as Manchester Confidential’s favourite curry house. The daal is to throw yourself under a rickety train for. Kabir the gaffer is rightly proud of the place and went to great lengths to explain to Gordo how he invented this method of serving the naan.

Imagine Gordo's surprise when he went to the new Indian Restaurant on Liverpool Road, Akbars. It was a Sunday evening. Next door to the Sapporo Teppanyaki, who don’t believe in advertising and promoting themselves, Akbars was heaving, with at least 50% of the punters of the Indian/Pakistani variety. Very good marketeers these lads - it shows. Interestingly, the non-advertising Sapporo Tepanyakki next door was as dead as a doornail.

Gordo was taken to his table by a good looking Asian bloke with a cheeky grin, Saj. Saj had a broad Yorkshire accent. But Gordo was a bit taken aback when he surveyed the very smart room, to observe a sea of windbreaks, exactly the same as EastZEast. The Naan Breads appeared to have been cruelly copied.

“Now Saj, a bit naughty copying EastZEast isn’t it?”, says Gordo, a twinkle in his eye.

“Ee, you must be bloody joking”, splutters Saj. “Our restaurant back in Bradford was the first to have these, and that cheeky bugger copied us”.

“Hmmm”, thought Gordo. “There’s a fair bit of nose growing going on here by someone, I will have to investigate.”

A visit back to EastZEast to try and sort it out.

Gordo can confirm that this rivalry has resulted in two astonishingly good restaurants. Akbars is outstanding as well. Gordo will shortly be doing an official marking review of Akbars. Will it get more points than EastZEast? OOeer. Wait and see.

Gordo
www.eastzeast.com
www.akbars.co.uk