I tried one of Whitehaven's most popular Indian takeaways

After trying two Chinese takeaways, I thought that I would try something a little different and paid a visit to one of Whitehaven's most popular Indian takeaways...Ali Taj. 

Located in Whitehaven's main nightlife area, the venue has enjoyed a bustling trade for decades. 

To get the most out of my experience I thought it best to get a starter and main course, accompanied by a rice dish and naan bread. 

I went to the shop myself to collect the order and I was served very promptly which to me is always a good sign. 

King Prawn Butterfly (Image: Newsquest)

The first dish I chose was the starter, King Prawn Butterfly. The dish consisted of two large king prawns cooked in breadcrumbs with spices. 

It was served with a small side salad yellow yoghurt and mint sauce. 

In my opinion, it was an enjoyable starter, and the mild, sweet, dipping sauce accompanied the richly dressed king prawns nicely. 

The side salad offered a refreshing accompaniment which made the dish feel light and balanced. 

If you happen to pay a visit to Ali Taj, I'd highly recommend this as a starter. 

As I have done with a previous food review, I decided that I would pick my main dish from the 'Chef's Specials' part of the menu. 

Lamb Tikka Massala, Egg Rice, Garlic Naan (Image: Newsquest)

For my main dish, I opted for Tikka Massala. My favourite meat when ordering from an Indian restaurant is lamb, so I opted for this instead of chicken. 

I got this served with egg rice and garlic naan bread. 

The Tikka Massala was deep red and there was a substantial amount of diced lamb added to the curry. 

To me, the dish seemed to have a rich and creamy taste with a slight, but pleasant, sourness. 

The egg rice was completely different to the classic dish served in a Chinese restaurant and the flavours combined well with the curry. 

The naan was soft with a mild garlic flavour and overall, the combination of the three made for a good, classic, takeaway meal.