Jump to content

Recommended Posts

Concur on MP's points on GP. Personally I find it uncomfortable and the food basic. The drink is really overpriced too. Unusually for an Indian restaurant the meat is on the bone and therefore cheaper to buy in.


It is ok. I don't understand why it does so well. And it was quite busy given it was a Tuesday.

It sells a litre bottle of beer for, wait for it ?10. That is about ?5.50 a pint...


Really top company though. Roll on February.

The Ganapati backlash begins! Not been there in a while, but my experience tallies with yours - quite a lot of money for OK, rustic home-cooking style food. I think it's popular because of the promise of authenticity, which in turn allows them to charge high prices.

It's not cheap compared to the more common cury houses but compared to any other restaurant type food it's on a par price-wise


And I always put that down to the fact that, unlike most of the LL curry houses, they don't have 20 staff living upstairs and earning pennies, rather than any promise of authenticity?

Which of the LL restaurants have staff living upstairs and how do we know that the Ganapati staff dont live upstairs themselves?


I have no problems with them differentiating themselves from the rest of the local curry restaurants. However they sell same-same popadoms at close to ?4 a portion (carefully broken up and piled high) and their ingredients are the same as any other curry house. Their rent must be lower and they probably pay minimum wage. I am suggesting that overall, their overheads are on a par with any other curry restaurant.


There is a conceipt in selling authentic street/cafe food in frankly uncomfortable surroundings at a higher price than is nescessary to generate a reasonable margin. People go because it is different. I would go again but probably not for a year or so. People also go because they cant be bothered to walk to the Lane on a cold and wet Tuesday evening.


I think local competition in Bellenden would make a difference. ED Indian/Bangladeshi Restauranteurs are you listening?

20 staff? Possible exaggeration for effect on my part there


But I have bumped into staff from some of the LL lane restaurants in the past (in the video shop) and when I asked how come they all came to the shop together they said it was because they all lived above the restaurant and had nothing else to do


So I was only being semi-serious ? but look it, many of the restaurants have an inordinate number of staff serving a very small space, and for food that doesn?t cost very much. Something must account for that


As for same ingredients? Not sure most curry houses are that fussed about where the chicken comes from and Ganapti does appear to promote the more expensive free-range variety. That might be something customers care or don?t about but it is a genuine differentiator


I?m not denying it?s expensive, and possibly over-priced tho? ? just expanding on some reasons why that might be

Unusually for an Indian restaurant the meat is on the bone and therefore cheaper to buy in.



Jeremy and Strafer are right, its very authentic and thats what you are paying for although Chief Bhuna is spot on about lack of competition in that area being a factor.


I wouldn't begin to compare Ganapati to a bog-standard 'British' curry house. Ganapati is authentic to South India where they do mainly eat meat on the bone. I think the ingredients they use are also quite different but then again, how much does a bunch of curry leaves cost? :)


If pushed, I'd say that I do find Ganapati a wee bit pricey but I don't mind paying that once in a while for an authentic South Indian meal if I cannot be bothered to cook it myself...


What I find tends to bump the price up when going with a group to Ganapati is a) the drinks and b) everyone usually wants to try their fantastic desserts too (and lets face it, unless you like frozen lemon sorbet served inside a lemon...you're not gonna order dessert in any of the other places)


Swadesh is my favourite of all the ones on the Lane (although Jaflong gets a huge thumbs up for their friendly, efficient service) so like Georgia, I will be up for going there in Feb too x


PS also, I think a return to the South Indian veggie place on the Lane is in order too if anyone fancies it sometime? (tu)

Oh well, I may as well give my tuppence worth.


Yes, Ganapati is by no means cheap. However, to my mind anyway, it is quite unlike any other Indian restaurant around our parts; and - as some have already pointed out - it is definitely not your standard "curry house". I have found every meal there exquisite. Service has always been absolutely spot on, too.


However, Mr. Pallywotsits' point over competition is an interesting one and, I must admit - as much as I love the place - if another establishment were to spring up locally which served similarly stupendous food at less expense, then I would probably go there instead. As things stand, I don't mind paying Ganapati's food prices purely because I feel I am paying for a unique dining experience. As far as I am aware, the nearest equivalent in terms of dish creativity, taste, presentation, service etc. would be Babur, but that restaurant is a little further away: on Brockley Rise. Having said all of this, I realise this is subjective: i.e. it all boils down to personal taste. Mick Mac is right about the alcoholic drinks being overpriced though: they are that.


Notwithstanding these witterings, I had a fabulous evening at my first Curry Club. The meal was delicious, the service faultless, and the company excellent. So thank you, Mr. Pallywotsits for arranging (and for sparing me the initiation ceremony in respect of no longer being a Curry-Club-Virgin). See you in 2013.

I cant speak to the state of the jakes. I didnt partake. This is very much Hibbs' department and I would not dare to interfere in her business.


I am not sure that the food is quite as superlative as Mucky describes. It is good, one would be disappointed if it were otherwise at these prices. Its not orgasmic. The hygiene is good though. Apparently.

Well I liked it. I think it's only expensive because of the drinks, which are a bit toppy for me really. Don't begrudge the prices for the very delicious food tho. Knife and fork thing is a bit weird but it's not the worst thing that's ever happened either so, y'know, overall I'd happily go there anytime. I'd just not drink much.
That's a very balanced assessment. For me price is not a big deal either. But its a bit school dinner in terms of comfort which just makes it feel cheap to me. And the knives and forks just reinforces that. The food is good but I would not leave ED for it. Looking forward to Mikes dim sum review tonight though.

They serve fried and steamed dumplings. Its on Bellenden Road, right hand side as you walk from The Victoria toward Ganapati.


Its BYO booze but with no corkage charged.


I love the steamed dumplings, lovely big soft balls; just your thing Mucky.

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
  • Latest Discussions

    • I think it's connected with the totem pole renovation celebrations They have passed now, but the notice has been there since then (at least that's when I first saw it - I passed it on the 484 and also took a photo!)
    • Labour was damned, no matter what it did, when it came to the budget. It loves go on about the black hole, but if Labour had had its way, we'd have been in lockdown for longer and the black hole would be even bigger.  Am I only the one who thinks it's time the NHS became revenue-generating? Not private, but charging small fees for GP appts, x-rays etc? People who don't turn up for GP and out-patient appointments should definitely be charged a cancellation fee. When I lived in Norway I got incredible medical treatment, including follow up appointments, drugs, x-rays, all for £200. I was more than happy to pay it and could afford to. For fairness, make it somehow means-tested.  I am sure there's a model in there somewhere that would be fair to everyone. It's time we stopped fetishising something that no longer works for patient or doctor.  As for major growth, it's a thing of the past, no matter where in the world you live, unless it's China. Or unless you want a Truss-style, totally de-regulated economy and love capitalism with a large C. 
    • If you read my post I expect a compromise with the raising of the cap on agricultural property so that far less 'ordinary' farmers do not get caught  Clarkson is simply a high profile land owner who is not in the business as a conventional farmer.  Here's a nice article that seems to explain things well  https://www.sustainweb.org/blogs/nov24-farming-budget-inheritance-tax-apr/ It's too early to speculate on 2029.  I expect that most of us who were pleased that Labour got in were not expecting anything radical. Whilst floating the idea of hitting those looking to minimise inheritance tax, including gifting, like fuel duty they also chickened put. I'm surprised that anyone could start touting for the Tories after 14 years of financial mismanagement and general incompetence. Surly not.  A very low bar for Labour but they must be well aware that there doesn't need to be much of a swing form Reform to overturn Labour's artificially large majority.  But even with a generally rabid right wing press, now was the opportunity to be much braver.
    • And I worry this Labour government with all of it's own goals and the tax increases is playing into Farage's hands. With Trump winning in the US, his BFF Farage is likely to benefit from strained relations between the US administration and the UK one. As Alastair Campbell said on a recent episode of The Rest is Politics who would not have wanted to be a fly on the wall of the first call between Angela Rayner and JD Vance....those two really are oil and water. Scary, scary times right now and there seems to be a lack of leadership and political nous within the government at a time when we really need it - there aren't many in the cabinet who you think will play well on the global stage.
Home
Events
Sign In

Sign In



Or sign in with one of these services

Search
×
    Search In
×
×
  • Create New...