Ashoka South Side - Glasgow

The least celebrated of the Ashoka franchise, the Ashoka South Side still offers the same quality Indian food. Small, personal and friendly, it is the perfect location for family get togethers and more intimate occasions. The staff largely leave you to your own devices, which is important, but are always there when you need them and happy to offer advice. A real favourite is the Ashoka's famous haggis pakora and the Chef's combo platter (a starter) is fantastic! It's almost like a meal in itself.

The Ashoka South Side is great, whenever I want a curry I never hesitate about where I am going to get it from. Whether eating in or takeaway it's always a delight and the food is always cooked to perfection. The only thing about the takeaway is that if you phone up using the freephone number, you are directed to a call centre and it usually takes around 40 minutes or more before you are feasting on your order. By which time you've probably eaten half of your arm off. That said, the food is always worth the wait and I highly recommend the Chicken Tikka, mmm!

This is a nice, decent Indian restaurant situated on Clarkston Rad. It's fairly traditional hence similar to many other Indian restaurants in it's decor, menu and service. Nonetheless, this is a really nice eating out option in the local area. The decor is warm, inviting and extremely comfortable with thickly cushioned seats. Meanwhile, the food is lovely, well cooked and gently spiced and marinaded. The portions are pretty generous and the prices decent. This is especially so if you opt for some of their meal deals e.g. the pre theatre two courses for around £9 between 3pm and 6pm. Lastly, the staff are friendly, polite and provide good attentive service what more are you after?

Last night we ordered a takeaway from the Ashoka. Long story short I was not amused. Now, don 't get me wrong. The Ashoka 's Chicken Jalfrezi is hard to beat and their pakora is pretty darn sexy. BUT, when I have a craving for a takeaway I want just that, and not to be ripped off completely. First things first you can call any single one of the Ashoka restaurants direct and try to order a takeaway, but they will all tell you the same thing. Namely, that you have to call a special number to order a takeaway. Know what that means? It means that to order some food you have to call a PREMIUM RATE NUMBER. Er, Hello? I know it 's not just me who thinks that this is unreasonable. Next up is the fact that they try to confuse you so much about their prices that you end up paying far more than you were expecting to. You will find three completely different sets of prices when you call up, when you look at the restaurants take away menu and when you try to order online. I can only assume that this is some low end tactic to rip you off. Last night it cost us over £20 to order two main curries, 1 portion of rice and 1 naan bread. And, as always, the naan was burnt. Do you feel like a valued Ashoka customer? Because I definitely don 't. I 'll be ordering from someone else next time.

Just a quick review here as this is based on takeaway not eating in. Really fresh, clean tasty curries that feel as if they are prepared with love by someone who knows what they are doing rather than by someone who makes curries as well as doner kebabs. Accompaniments were also just as good quality. I can't fault this place but the only reason it doesn't get 5 stars is that's its quite pricey for a takeaway. I'm sure it would be great to eat in and when I get the chance to visit I'll update this... Hopefully to a 5*!