Sam’s Balti

This take away does not immediately appear to be a place that serves authentic Indian food. It looks fairly plain from the outside and is quite simplistic. I decided to go in with a friend when we were in the area and so we gave it a try. When we went in the staff greeted us warmly and were very polite. We took a few minutes to browse the menu and it had all the usual dishes that you would expect on there. They also serve specials dishes, but I stuck to a chicken korma. The prices are cheap here and so it is ideal for students or those who want to purchase a curry without breaking the bank! When we finally got round to eating our food back at home we were impressed. It was tasty and very flavourful. I would recommend this place if you are in the area and in need of a curry!

One of literally dozens of small, indepdendent takeaways on the Bristol Road South in Northfield, Sam’s Balti serves the traditional combination of Indian and Pakistani cuisine that Birmingham is known internationally for. Unlike many Indian takeaways that go for big, flashy store front facades in order to draw the customers in, it’s fair to say that Sam’s is the other end of the spectrum, being very small and unassuming (it looks very reminiscent of a conservatory). Some may prefer somewhere that seeks to really draw you in with its appearance, however the basic style of Sam’s was what drew me to it in the first place, as I assumed they were willing to let their food do the talking and win them custom rather than gimmicks that, after all, don’t have any bearing on the quality of the food. The prices are extremely good — with mains ranging from £4.25 to £7.50 — and there’s even greater value to be found in the specials (try Sam’s Special Balti — one of the best curries I’ve ever had for just £5.95). Highly recommended.