Aroma Balti, Walsall

The New Year means out with the old and in with the new for one well known Walsall curry house.

For Aroma Balti on Wolverhampton Road West, just off Junction 10, is officially changing its name to Blue Chilli in just a few weeks, as soon as it gets its new signage.

But its menu has already changed, and perhaps not for the better, as I found out when I visited earlier this week.

As well as traditional Indian food it now serves pizza, chicken nuggets and even salads, perhaps this is why it was not great the other evening.

The staff were friendly and helpful enough and the place looked very clean inside. I even had 10 per cent off my order because I went down and collected it.

But unfortunately this does not make up for the lack of quality and freshness of the meal I ordered.

I chose saag bhaji to start, £1.95, which compised of spinach cooked with garlic. The meal looked more brown than green.

I also ordered a plain naan bread, £1.35, and a garlic naan bread, £1.70, both of which tasted as if it had been heated up in a microwave. The garlic naan didn't taste particularly of garlic either.

My king prawn jalfrezy, £6.20, definitely didn't contain many king prawns, rather four or five tiger prawns, and it left me with bad indigestion.

I had it with a pilau rice which was priced at £1.65.

My friend chose a chicken tikka massala, £4.95, with pilau rice, £1.65. The meal didn't have very much chicken in it, and was another let-down.

My total order cost £21.25.

Overall I was not impressed by the food and I don't think I shall be visiting again.

It is a shame especially if the owners are embarking on a new venture with the name change, but people do deserve value for money.

I personally would rather wait a bit longer for my meal than eat substandard food.

Fiona McCartney

Wolverhampton Road West, Bentley,

Walsall

Tel: 01922 643355