We visited Paprika, Horndean, on Wednesday 14th March. Drinks beforehand were at the Colonial Bar which is about 150 yards away over the motorway bridge. 

It was a good turnout for a new venue, and we were made very welcome.  It's funny how you see the same faces turning up - the manager here had previously been involved in the Paribar restaurant in Petersfield, now the Cafe India takeaway.  Anyway, we enjoyed some tasty (if at times supernaturally colourful) food on what would otherwise have been a quiet Wednesday night in this quite sizeable restaurant. 

Some highlights included a special chicken dish, spinach with chickpeas, achari lamb, chicken with pineapple, and a king prawn dish.  Accompanied by a selection of naans, and probably too much rice. Not much variation in heat, but it was acceptable cooking and they were learning our likes and dislikes for the first time.  Will's thoughts describe the food in more detail.

The conversation ranged widely as usual.  How and why we got to the Welsh language, I really can't remember, but one member knew just two words - croeso and ambwlans  (Welcome and Ambulance). The things that go between these - rugby match (rygbi) and beer (cwrw) - seem to be missing from his memory. 

Anyway, this is an addition to our circuit, and I'm sure we'll be back. 

How to get there:  Travelling South from Petersfield, it's on the Portsmouth Road (old A3) just before you reach the bridge over the A3(M).  There's a small shopping precinct, really just a single block, on the right and it's the last unit.

9 Horndean Precinct, Portsmouth Road, Horndean.

The Colonial Bar - about 100 yards away, across the A3(M) bridge.

March 2007

023 9259 7111

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Bus: 41