I'm somewhat hesitant to write this. it's not a bad review, quite the contrary; the problem is that at the moment I can get a table without booking. If too many people find out about them, I'll have to book which would be a pain.
But these chaps are turning out such good food that they deserve praise.. The restaurant doesn't have the location factor, it's on the small road that goes through Maghull parallel to the A59, and even if you were passing it's small and you wouldn't notice it. So I hope this sends at least a few curryheads their way.
I lived on brick lane in London for 5 years and visited Leicester and Southall for about 15 years. So I'm unashamedly a curry snob. I find most curry houses up here in the Grim Northwest a bit formulaic and undistinguished. it's also rare to find someone that specifically has proper Bangladeshi dishes on the menu, even though most Indian restaurants are in fact Bangladeshi.
So I was really pleased when a mate told me that a new place had opened up near where I live that did 'Naga chicken'. In case you're not familiar, naga mirchi is the name bangladeshi's give to some fearsomely hot chillis from bangladesh (aka naga moric, naga jolokia). That was a good sign, as proper Bangladeshi food is very good.
The Bring Your Own beer is good too, they charge £1/head for corkage but when you consider a bottle of Cobra that costs £1.60 in Asda or somewhere gets sold at rip-off prices for £3+ in most Indians, So £1/head is a bargain. Add a few more beers and you're not being ripped off by a long way.
The food is excellent. the only Indian I would compare it to is Shimla pinks in manchester before that went downhill, I'd say the unpretentious little Bay of Bengal now does some of the best food in the North West.
Things to try:
the Dil Joka is the naga chicken dish. I tried it with lamb, and it packs a punch. by the end, my stomach went into shock briefly (suitably calmed down with a chilled pear cider). I recognised immediately that they use Mr Naga chilli paste, not chilli powder. Mr. Naga has a unique flavour. the food wasn't oily at all, just tasty, and what was strange was that despite the heat from the Mr. Naga, I could taste the lamb. Note I said lamb, most restaurants serve mutton. And despite the volcanic heat, as they didn't use just chilli powder for heat but Mr Naga, I didn't have a ringburner then next day.
My wife had a spinach chicken dish, which was also excellent. She's normally a chicken korma only girl, so for her to praise this so highly is unheard of.
Next time we went, I had the lamb tikka balti pepped up with a dollop of Mr Naga at my request; fantastic, really delicious. My wife tried the chicken masala which was also very good if a little sweet for my savoury tastes.
We've since had takeaways, Our niece who doesn't usually like pilao rioce scoffed the pilao rice they'd mistakenly included and asked for a second helping.
I am trying different dishes out as we go along, they're all damn good and that Mr Naga is a real winner. that's the sign of a good indian, where you don't just choose your regular favourite, but try and eat your way around the menu as it's all just so tasty.
One thing I wold recommend every time - a mixed vegetable bhajia sidedish. It's spiced but very subtly, it's fantastic, one of the best side dishes I've ever had. The spinach bhajia is also very good but not as good as the mixed veg one.
if you like good curry that's not the usual patak's flavoured slop swimming in oil, but that tastes of the spices and ingredients, give this place a try.
Ali
A great place to go and eat with the added benefit of taking in your own drinks.... good food and cheap booze :)
Graham
If you like Indian food, you cant go far wrong at Bay Of Bengal. Also, you can take your own wine and beer, which makes it a cheap night out.
