5-Course Special Banquet at Whitley Lodge Tandoori

By Ania Askwith

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Whitley Lodge Tandoori, Whitley Bay, 11 Claremont Crescent, NE26 3HL

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If you’re looking for a restaurant-quality Indian takeaway in Whitley Bay, this is a place to try. We opted for their 5-course special banquet which is £15.95, but you can upgrade it to the £17.95 version that gets you a little more choice, which I think is worth it.

I normally prefer to go out for food rather than order in, but it’s the kind of food you enjoy eating on your sofa with a movie on, and I can see us going back over the festive period as I really enjoyed the food. So much so it deserves its own article!

What’s on the 5-course special banquet menu

The 5 courses include a starter, main course, and side dishes. You get a lot of choice, and as we don’t really have particular favourites when it comes to an Indian menu (we like anything spicy and are happy to go with the recommendations and try something new), we went for:

• Popadom and condiments – these are a must when having an Indian meal and the perfect way to start the banquet. The popadoms were super thin, just how I like them, and there were enough condiments for two people sharing. I loved the fresh onion salad, super crunchy and fresh.
• Bhuna Prawn Puree: prawns cooked in a rich, spiced tomato-based bhuna sauce that brings medium heat. Served with a soft, fried puree bread, which was so moreish. I could easily have had 3 of these little breads, so delish!

• King Prawn Jalfrezi: Juicy king prawns in a fiery curry, cooked with onions, peppers, and tomatoes. I found this dish to be so fresh with crunchy vegetables; even though the portion was quite large, I couldn’t stop eating it – it was delicious. I asked for it to be a little more saucy than normal as I sometimes find that Jalfrezi can do with a bit more sauce, and they were more than happy to do that!

• Chicken Butter Cream: A creamy, indulgent curry with tender chicken in a velvety sauce. The mix of butter and cream creates a luxurious, mild dish ideal for those who prefer a gentle spice. It’s the first time I saw this dish on a takeaway menu, and I can describe it like a bit of a mix between butter chicken and korma. Sweet and smooth.
• Spicy Garlic Chips: Golden chips tossed with spices for a nice kick. A great side dish that adds fiery flavour to the meal, so it went really well with the mild butter cream sauce.
• Nut Pilau: Fragrant rice cooked with delicate spices and crunchy nuts. The nuts bring texture and richness, which I love. The portion was big enough for sharing, and there was a great balance between rice and nuts; I could actually eat the whole portion on its own – it was so delicious.
• Peshwari Naan: Soft naan bread filled with a sweet mixture of coconut, raisins, and almonds. Its sweetness contrasted beautifully with the spiciness of the curry, it was perfect to balance the meal.

We found all dishes to be really delicious – the banquet was definitely a good value for money.
We added an extra curry to the order as we wanted to try more dishes, but this is not necessary for two people sharing; there was just the perfect amount of food in the banquet.
And while the portions were great, it was the taste that convinced me that this is a place we’ll go back to. You can definitely tell that they have a restaurant chef prepping the food. Top quality!

Location:
Whitley Lodge Tandoori is located at 11 Claremont Crescent, NE26 3HL, just a 10-minute walk from Monkseaton Metro Station; there is also free parking available right in front of the building.

Best For:
Indian food, Whitley Bay takeaway, chef-quality Indian food

Website:
To check their current deals and offers, visit their website HERE or follow them on their socials HERE.

Enjoyed this post? If you love discovering things to do, places to go, and the best spots to eat and drink in the North East and beyond, be sure to follow my blog for more reviews, recommendations, travel tips, and hidden gems. And for a closer look at my day-to-day experiences, follow me on Instagram@ania.askwith for behind-the-scenes content and even more discoveries! Let’s explore together!

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