Curry night. A British institution. The group chat finally aligned, and we decided to meet up in Flackwell Heath. We booked a table and built up an appetite all day. I head for the feast, leaving my house in the dark to take on the three-quarters of a mile push to the restaurant. A quick thanks to the lads for heading my way, cheers!
The Vibe
Curry night in Lumbini, the vibe was exactly what you want for a lads’ night out. It was buzzing without being chaotic, with that instantly comforting aroma of spices hitting you as soon as you open the door – I could smell the curry in the air on approach to the row of shops Lumbini is in. That certainly helped me quicken my pace! The staff were spot on from the get-go—friendly, quick to seat us, and ready to take the all-important drinks order – I had an OJ.
The Starter Ritual
You can’t have a curry night without the mandatory poppadom tower. We ordered a stack for the table along with the full chutney tray.
There’s always that tactical phase during the starters—trying to secure enough of the mango chutney without filling up so much that you ruin the main course. We just about managed to show some restraint, though the onion salad was particularly sharp and fresh. Although, unfortunately, no Lime Pickle.
The Main Event
When those heavy menus landed, the usual debate started. Some of the guys tried a Goat dish, another a Chicken Korma or fiery Madras.
Personally, I was in the mood for something that balances comfort with complex flavour. I bypassed the curries and went straight for the Chicken Biryani.
I have to say, Lumbini absolutely nailed it.
When it arrived, it looked the part—a massive, steaming mound of aromatic, fluffy rice, glistening with ghee and spices. It came with the essential side vessel of vegetable curry sauce to moisten it up.
The chicken itself was incredibly tender, buried like treasure within the rice. It wasn’t dry in the slightest, which is often the downfall of a lesser Biryani. It wasn’t overwhelmingly hot, just packed with fragrant spices—cardamom, cloves, cinnamon—that made every forkful interesting. When mixed with the side sauce, it was the perfect comforting plate of food.
The Verdict
The table went pretty quiet once the mains landed, which is always the highest compliment you can pay a restaurant. We were all too busy tucking in.
It was a cracking night. Great company, the usual terrible banter, and seriously good food. If you’re in the Flackwell Heath area and you’re craving a proper authentic curry night, I’d definitely recommend giving Lumbini a shout.
I rolled out of there absolutely stuffed, but already looking forward to the next one.
More Curries
Whenever I am somewhere new, I try to find an Indian Restaurant, go for a Curry and let people know my thoughts.
You can see my visual curry reviews on my Quick Curry House Review YouTube playlist.
Following on:
The journey from my home in Flackwell to Lumbini – the restaurant in my village, not the province in Nepal – is of about thee-quarters of a mile. The terrain is of tarmac surface but littered with cracks, pot-holes, tree roots pushing themselves through layers of asphalt, maintenance conveys and tree debris. There is also numerous road junctions to cross with the dropped curb sometimes being blocked by a parked car, or slightly off from the main direction I am heading. Camber also brings a challenge to keep my wheelchair in a straight line.
A breakdown of the journey can be found here: Coming Soon!