The Lady Said This Is The Best Curry In Cyprus, She is Right

JohhnyLee


Joined: 25/04/2009
Posts: 2495

Message Posted:
12/07/2011 11:43

A lady at the Haci Ali Hotel on Sat. night said to me , this is the 2nd time I have eaten the best curry in TRNC. and both times here.



So I said if it's that good we will try it. (We only normally eat my indian food)



So last night we did, I do not think you would find a better setting, or a higher standard of cleanliness, (service can be a bit slow)



Yes she was right, The best curry at a Restaurant since the UK.



This is not an indian restaurant, but the main chef is Pakistani.



We had 2 chicken currys mine was Madras (more like vindaloo) served with rice , excellent chips, some fresh veg on the side and a huge plate of salad.



2 Efes, 6 glasses of wine. 66 T.L. around £25.00



The chef (Yusef) explained to me that he does not really like currys himself so he simply makes it the same way as his mother used to make it.



The meals where 17 TL and local drinks are 4TL and the view is free.

JohnDownes


Joined: 03/12/2010
Posts: 123

Message Posted:
12/07/2011 11:58

Where's the Haci Ali Hotel ?



I'm always up for a good curry, though I have to admit I am slightly suspicious of the judgement of anybody who eats them with chips!

flamefabs


Joined: 09/07/2011
Posts: 193

Message Posted:
12/07/2011 12:11

mess 1 - prey tell what qualifies you to state this is the best indian in the trnc ?





barry

JohhnyLee


Joined: 25/04/2009
Posts: 2495

Message Posted:
12/07/2011 13:27

Haci Ali is on the strip in Lapta. Didnt ask for the chips , they just happened to be there.



Hi Barry, Beacuase I have eaten at every other one. (also I have do have a liitle bit of experience )



But like I said this is not an Indian Restaurant, the Chef just happens to make superb curry.

martinD41


Joined: 06/09/2010
Posts: 3001

Message Posted:
12/07/2011 13:51

flamefabs...re msg 3......."prey what qualifies you to state this is the best curry in TRNC"



Be careful ,I happen to know that JohhnyLee is indeed very experienced when it comes to curry,and if he says Haci Ali is "The One" that's good enough for me ... Thanks Lee

yacht56


Joined: 23/03/2009
Posts: 25

Message Posted:
12/07/2011 14:01

next time i come out i will try this on your head be it johnnylee.

JohhnyLee


Joined: 25/04/2009
Posts: 2495

Message Posted:
12/07/2011 14:32

OK it's on my head .



Of course at the end of the day it is personal taste, this really was very good, not the normal indian gravy, (and yes that's what they call it ) but a very rich sauce.



I feel if you like curry it is well worth a try,



I beleive it is Chefs night off on Monday normally. But this may change.If you wish to phone Cengis at Haci Ali,first his num. is 0533 840 2799.



Thank You martinD41, Maybe I am wrong to state the best should have said , in my opinion and the lady who advised us about it.

chrism


Joined: 27/10/2008
Posts: 1465

Message Posted:
12/07/2011 15:00

How about a competition, I own The Old Mill in Ozankoy and our customers say that our curry is the best!

Zoony


Joined: 26/03/2010
Posts: 136

Message Posted:
12/07/2011 15:01

OK here is my opinion i think the best curry in North Cyprus is Nosheens good service exellent food the owner had a Indian resturant in the UK for 22 years before coming here , dont take my word for it try for yourself.

flamefabs


Joined: 09/07/2011
Posts: 193

Message Posted:
12/07/2011 15:18

message 4 - johnny, i have been a fan of curries for years, but sadly most i have tasted fall short of the mark.



probably the best curry i have tasted is in a lovey village, just outside wolverhampton (Feathrstone, if you know it) - The restaurant is in a lovely barn conversion and is owned by a Brit (rather than an indian). Their king prawns are the size of small lobsters and their food is absolutely knockout.



Although a fair run from our place in warwick, we try and eat there at least twice a month.



if the owner opened up in the trnc, he'd clean up.



Barry

MrsSnakes



Joined: 19/12/2008
Posts: 1100

Message Posted:
12/07/2011 15:27

Flamefabs......was it The Kings Repose?

flamefabs


Joined: 09/07/2011
Posts: 193

Message Posted:
12/07/2011 15:52

yes - how do you know ??

0maintenance


Joined: 22/09/2010
Posts: 2179

Message Posted:
12/07/2011 15:59

message 10



Johnny Lee is the Brit

MrsSnakes



Joined: 19/12/2008
Posts: 1100

Message Posted:
12/07/2011 17:44

I guess that makes Johnny Lee a good judge on curry then!!!!

Baspinar Bob


Joined: 15/02/2008
Posts: 618

Message Posted:
12/07/2011 17:57

This has turned out to be the funniest thread i have read on 44. And i think the curry at Haji Ali is a bit special. Bob.

MrsSnakes



Joined: 19/12/2008
Posts: 1100

Message Posted:
12/07/2011 18:12

You couldn't make it up!!

JohhnyLee


Joined: 25/04/2009
Posts: 2495

Message Posted:
12/07/2011 18:51

AMAZING, I know that one of our very regular customers has a place in Esentepe, and he told me he takes people from London.



I created the Kings Repose almost 16 years ago, unfortunatley we did not buy the building at the time.



The Beautiful Barn is owned by our Landlord who also owns Featherstone Farm Hotel, next door to us.



He is nothing to do with the actual business.



The King Prawns are huge and some places try to pass them off as lobster.



I introduced those to my partner and Master Chef Misbah, also I have created many of the unique dishes there.



I wish everyone who likes curry could eat there. I am biased, but I am honest, we had a fantastic choice of Indian Cuisine in the West Mids. Some incredible Indian Food, But message 10 must also know his stuff.



Many people in TRNC say that the finest Indian here, is high up in Baspinar with views to die for.



Our reputation really is down to team effort, but most importantly the Chef, (That's why he's a partner)

0maintenance


Joined: 22/09/2010
Posts: 2179

Message Posted:
12/07/2011 18:56

High up in Baspinar with views to die is where i was told that by private invite only your able to taste possibly the best chicken or meat curry in the TRNC and i believe the person who told me because he has tasted most of the curries on the island,and he did speak very highly of that little place high up on a hill in Baspinar,with views to die for

mozgor



Joined: 16/06/2010
Posts: 256

Message Posted:
12/07/2011 18:59

Sad that a Pakistani chef served chips with curry :o(

JohhnyLee


Joined: 25/04/2009
Posts: 2495

Message Posted:
12/07/2011 19:07

I adore a few good chips with a curry.



Omaintenance likes it hot and spicy, I hear he likes a good curry aswell.

0maintenance


Joined: 22/09/2010
Posts: 2179

Message Posted:
12/07/2011 19:11

JL



Your right,i do like it hot n spicy.



Who is HE who you heard likes a good curry aswell?

tattlad


Joined: 13/12/2008
Posts: 479

Message Posted:
12/07/2011 19:17

Happy Valley Catalkoy, there's a few will vouch for Riaz.

0maintenance


Joined: 22/09/2010
Posts: 2179

Message Posted:
12/07/2011 19:18

Great curry there tattlad

JohhnyLee


Joined: 25/04/2009
Posts: 2495

Message Posted:
12/07/2011 19:22

Sorry Should have read She. (but i dint know how to do a smiley.) i did one once by accident.

JohhnyLee


Joined: 25/04/2009
Posts: 2495

Message Posted:
12/07/2011 19:25

I know N.N.always spoke highly of Happy Valley curry,



The other strange thing is that N.N. was one of the first people to come into the Kings Repose after I had taken it over.In 1995.

nigetj


Joined: 22/07/2010
Posts: 176

Message Posted:
12/07/2011 20:09

had one at punjab tonite aand it was nothing like last year xwil defo try hachi ali thanks x

EamonnMc


Joined: 18/06/2010
Posts: 1019

Message Posted:
12/07/2011 20:51

Think that the best curry I ever had was at the Courtyard restaurant in Kyrenia.

JohhnyLee


Joined: 25/04/2009
Posts: 2495

Message Posted:
12/07/2011 21:47

Please remember . Like I said this is not an Indian Retaurant, Just a very good Curry at a very good price in a superb surroundings.

martinD41


Joined: 06/09/2010
Posts: 3001

Message Posted:
12/07/2011 22:00

Lee is the barn a grade 1 listed building ...just curious .... I have driven past it a few times... many years ago.

niceone


Joined: 08/06/2011
Posts: 60

Message Posted:
12/07/2011 23:07

on our side of town the best curry is at Shiraz (Catalkoy)

JohhnyLee


Joined: 25/04/2009
Posts: 2495

Message Posted:
13/07/2011 11:07

Martin I am fairly sure it is grade 2, Quite a lot of history with Charles the 2nd and Cromwell having a few scraps in the area.



Hence the name The Kings Repose, It is thought that the meeting place for Charles the 2nd before he fled to Ireland was near to the Barn.



I did not name it, it had been a restaurant for a short while before , (not Indian) and I agreed with the Landlord to continue with the name.

GinaGee


Joined: 08/07/2011
Posts: 7

Message Posted:
13/07/2011 11:49

We used to enjoy the Al Shaheen? I think that's the name, in Catalkoy. Nosheens had just opened the last time we were there but we never gave it a try, I have read a few really good reviews about this place, so will be trying there and also Haci Ali, we had some lovely meze there and the setting was lovely.

Simhar


Joined: 18/05/2009
Posts: 227

Message Posted:
13/07/2011 14:45

You should give the Old Mill a try in Ozankoy, fantastic curry and accompaniments. Best I have had on the Island!

Pugwash


Joined: 06/09/2010
Posts: 1797

Message Posted:
13/07/2011 15:17

I think a proper TRNC curry competition would be a very good idea

JohhnyLee


Joined: 25/04/2009
Posts: 2495

Message Posted:
13/07/2011 15:32

Yes it would be, my resaturant is in a big one this month,



But it really depends on how you organise it.



IE, One of the main competitions in the UK the you went through several heats (not the madras type) to get to the final.



Then you had a limited amount of time to cook your signature or chosen dish.

Tatum1


Joined: 23/03/2009
Posts: 337

Message Posted:
13/07/2011 16:25

Was Zoony ...... no more!

Every time I have been lately and ordered the same dish ..... I get a different type of curry!!!!!!

No longer giving my custom

Hippo


Joined: 02/02/2007
Posts: 2070

Message Posted:
13/07/2011 16:44

Hippo makes the best curry this side of the black stump

JohhnyLee


Joined: 25/04/2009
Posts: 2495

Message Posted:
14/07/2011 08:46

Someone said to me that this can' be real it must have been set up.



Those of you who know me will know that not to be the case, I was gobsmacked when I saw it.



I do not know or have never met flamefabs, But I spoke to my head waiter in the UK and he seems to think he may know him, (He has an excellent memory for customers names).



It really is a small world at times.



About 10 years ago we where on holiday in Lesvos Greece, in a very unspoilt part of the Island , my dad was taken ill and I had to find a phone box.



At the time the after dinner mints we gave with the coffee in the Restaurant where pink plastic foil wrapped with our phone number etc.



I couldn't beleive my eyes there was one on the floor by the phone box with a cigarette burn on it.

moxie


Joined: 23/05/2009
Posts: 969

Message Posted:
14/07/2011 10:44

Went to Haci Ali last night, after seeing your post................not what i consider the usual Indian curry, (or should i say what im used to)

But, it was indeed a very good Curry, nice fresh salad, rice and chips, asked for hotter than vindaloo, but to me more like a Madras .I really enjoyed it ,my husband also loved it ,Yusef was great , lovely setting and friendly service,,will be going back again, this weekend, thanks for the tip

JohhnyLee


Joined: 25/04/2009
Posts: 2495

Message Posted:
14/07/2011 11:27

moxie, so glad you enjoyed it. I am going to have a word with Yusef about a few finer points, IE maybe he can make some simple Nan Bread or Paratha, or even drop a few popadoms in the deep fat fryer.



The pool area in the day is beautiful and the access to the sea is nice and clean and easy, there are changing rooms showers , and it is all free of charge, (they do expect you to buy a snack or a drink).

flamefabs


Joined: 09/07/2011
Posts: 193

Message Posted:
14/07/2011 11:52

have to agree johnny, very small world.



i would like to meet you when we're next over.



you should deffo open a restaurant in the trnc.





Barry

JohhnyLee


Joined: 25/04/2009
Posts: 2495

Message Posted:
14/07/2011 16:50

Hi Barry, we do get back to the K.R. every qtr. for VAT and a few other things and try to eat a few good currys whilst there.



So maybe catch you then, but if not yes would like to meet you over here.



Actually another strange thing similar did happen , We met some people here, and did't know that we had been almost neighbours in Sedgley and that our daughters had gone to the same school and brownies.



So they come to us for a Curry when we where renting in Bellapais, then a few nights later they got talking to a gentleman in Esentepe, I think they said they had enjoyed the meal with us and he said virtually the same thing as you, and described the K.R. to them. I know they where all pretty suprised.



I often think I could open here, I also cook lots of other types of food, and i entertain a bit so we could possibly run Bar/Restaurant, But we don't have enough hours in the day at the moment. I was supposed to be taking it easy. Look forward to meeting you. Lee.