Sultan Balti Palace

Market Place, Wokingham

The Sultan has long been a favourite of mine, owner Majid has been a personal friend for some years now and his support for charities and events in the Wokingham area are a matter of record and his fame and reputation are known in the highest places in the land, more of that later.

A listed building the Sultan has been a fixture for a number of years now, with couples, close friends as well as large groups converging on this two level restaurant to enjoy a few hours of easy pleasure and good quality Indian cuisine.

This restaurant offers real value for money with an extensive menu offering one of the widest ranges of dishes known to man, with a great and impressive list of authentic Balti dishes; as good as I have seen on recent visits to both Birmingham and Manchester!

We savoured a chilled bottle of sparkling water as we perused the ten page impressive menu, a colourful and informative journey around some of the many dishes reflecting real Indian cuisine. The menu continues to be updated and many of the dishes on this extended menu are new, with clear and effective definitions with indications of the degree of hotness, vital for the newcomer to this cuisine, more than helpful to those who consider themselves experienced!

I had the Malai Chicken Tikka, breast of chicken marinated in cream and yoghurt with fresh herbs and spices, then char grilled in a clay oven, a new dish for me and one that I would certainly enjoy again. Served with a quarter of very fresh lemon and a mini salad, this was the essence of Indian cuisine, a little spice with a balanced counterpart on the same plate!

Sue plumped for one of her favourites, Prawn Puri, shrimps spiced with a blend of spices and cooked Bhuna style, served on a Puri. It was very pleasing, although she did say the puri was certainly thicker than enjoyed elsewhere, but nevertheless an enjoyable and reliable favourite.

The wine list had provided us with a wide selection of keenly priced wines, we, no Sue again, selected a fine Shiraz, an Opal Ridge, which was both smooth and pleasing to the palate, a fine combination. Spicy food is not always easy but this sat with comfort and ease with our selected main dishes.

Sue selected the Masala Fish, full of flavour and, whilst it had a one chilli guidance from the chef it was certainly hot, but well within the comfort factor. It is always a good idea to follow such guides from the chef, although Sue is always keen to play safe when we visit restaurant where I am known, she knows the chefs appreciate that I like hot food and hers have been adjusted accordingly at times, and I suffer the consequences! There was a particularly good flavour to this dish, the fish was cooked to perfection and Sue enjoyed it greatly, and whilst she sampled my Cucumber Raita with enthusiasm, she would certainly order this dish again.

Being a current devotee of lamb I made a beeline towards the Balti Lamb Tikka, small pieces of very tender lamb marinated in yoghurt and yellow chilli powder and cooked in the tandoor. Regular fans of my columns know of current affair with lamb, in all forms, and I make no apology for that. Lamb is a great dish in quality Indian restaurants, and this restaurant is no exception!

I ordered this dish with Nan bread, Mushroom Bhaji and may favourite Raita. This is my very benchmark and the Sultan Palace did not let me down. Under the experienced and expert guidance of Manager Jehan Zeb, this restaurant runs like the original clockwork. Guests depart and the team arrives, tablecloth changed, cutlery and glasses polished and placed with an inch of their chosen sport and, Voila, no visible changes or joins. He, like many of the staff, has been in place for many years, and customers are known, appreciated and respected. This restaurant was one of the very first to have comment cards for diners to offer their comments and observations as a direct feedback to management. It works, as does the objective of appreciating regular diners with cards and celebrations for births, birthdays and other events in the life of the customer.

The menu here id clean, fresh, well presented and reflects a wide range of dishes that would rival any restaurant in the country. The service levels are above most, drinks, Papadums, and Chutney selections are delivered with a smile, from experienced staff, keen to appreciate the needs and requirements of diners, and willing to enjoy in a polite and respectful conversation with those seen and appreciated as regular customers. My visit on a warm and enjoyable July evening gave me the opportunity to see how many diners came into that select category.

The Sultan Palace Balti represents the very essence of Indian cuisine in this country, real value for money, a definite lack of pretension and excellent value for money. It is, quite simply, one of the finest unpretentious Indian restaurants I have encountered, with superb food, and service of the highest standards known where a Michelin star is simply not an aim, value for money and reliable service is preferred.

You can find this restaurant by calling 01189 774397, or call in to the Sultan Balti palace, 7 market Place, Wokingham. You will certainly find a warm and convivial welcome.

Ah, I hear you ask, what about the finest in the land appreciating the food at this fine restaurant. A careful examination of the attached photograph, taken during the course of this week, will see readers of this column appreciating the fact that the Prime Minister, Tony Blair, for the seventh year in succession, has appreciated the quality of the food from this restaurant when the entire staff, chefs included, made their annual visit to Downing Street to arrange, cook and serve their annual barbeque for Tony, wife and more than two hundred friends. Do you want a greater recommendation than this, my words and the recommendation of Tony Blair, wife and friends?

Come on, would we, honest citizens, tell you a lie? Do we need to curry favour?

Seriously, this restaurant has my honest and highest recommendation, Tony Blair, wife and many friends enjoyed the food the night before I visited with Sue. What more can we say? Goodness gracious me, get on with yourself and make a booking!

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