Will writes...

The Eastern Eye, sounds distant, shrouded in mystery, incorporeal. The PLACE registers no postal address, it could be anywhere, yet I swear I ate there last night.  It’s in Southsea, a minutes (very leisurely) stroll from the Kings Theatre, where my boss Baz has a flat…but had he heard of the restaurant…no he had not (!).  Hmmm, but I definitely dined at the restaurant and have the takeaway menu to prove it. 

Sometimes life feels like fiction, suppose the SERVICE was by the curry house norm too good to be true.  All 3 staff had an English vocabulary that stretched well beyond ‘Please’ and ‘Thank you’, were all very amiable and patient also.  They didn’t even mind when I poured wine all over the table, presumably they’d have washed the tablecloth anyway!  No service charge included I noticed on the bill, so they have to earn their extra.  After a generous tip my friend and I spent £42.  This included a gin, a beer to aperitifs taken with poppadams with 6 different dips, a bottle of the house red, that got better with time, 2 starters, a tasty Rasmi Kebab (minced lamb encased in omlette), a well seasoned Aloo Puri, 1 Chicken Tikka Balti madras strength, tangy and flavourful, a Prawn Balti with Naan, a lot of rice and Dal Sambar (gorgeous nutty lentils with mixed veg)…so PRICES are reasonable, the FOOD was more than.  In SUMMARY, if you can find the Eastern Eye then you’re in luck.

Interesting menu that reads like a curry bible and loveable waiters, so kind one even had Christmas ‘for the kids’ including Turkey despite not recognising the religious festival by his Muslim faith!

(January 2007)

…ON RETURNING…

Last time I saw Jack he was spreadeagled in the remains of his tent in a field south of Roskilde, Denmark.  That was 6 months ago, Monday last we met up again for drinks in the Honest Politician before hunger led us to the Eastern Eye.  To start had Prawn Puri, chat massala bit too keen for prawns, Jack had Rasmi Kebab, a canteen meal in itself.  Warning! Portions are large! Chicken Jalfrezi, bursting with juicy flavour, big chunks of barbecued chicken, sweet onions/green peppers, hot, sour green chillies. 

Lamb Rezala, sweet not saccharine, creamy and herby.  Sides, Dal Sambar (very good again) plus Broccoli Bhajee – bland.  All absorbed with mounds rather dry pilau rice.  Second visits rarely as good as first, still this is a reliable restaurant.

(January 2007)

This restaurant has also been reviewed by the excellent Cuisine de Pompey (04 March 2007)