‘Frayed around the edges’ – The Crafty Indian, Shipley, reviewed

I admire anybody with a bit of well-placed ambition, and Harry Khinda – owner of The Crafty Indian in Shipley – has bags of it. In a bold effort to 'do something different' and offer 'something unique' to the locals, Khinda’s given his long-established restaurant a refurb and re-jigged the menu, ditching the likes of ye olde korma and bhuna for the double-header of 'street kitchen' (ugh) and 'craft beer' (double ugh).

For a restaurant looking to move away from late-night curry house tropes I had hoped for more

I know, I know. In the heady days of 2020 this may not sound as groundbreaking as I’m making out, but around here, where your old-school curry gaffs are still a big pull, it probably is. Fair play to the fella. But while there’s promise, there are peeves, too.  

Things are a touch chilly, for example, in both temperature and welcome. Within seconds of arriving we’re asked, unsmilingly, not if we’d like any poppadoms but, presumptuously, how many we’d be necking. Granted, they might only be 50 pence a pop, but it’s a grabby move, as subtle as the bright pink walls and the kind of chainy technique I’d have thought The Crafty Indian wanted to rise above.

But anyway, the three we get are fresh and snappy, although the assorted dips (£2) – which include a vibrant coriander chutney (love it) and a milky substance akin to strawberry Nesquik (bit weird) – are on the frugal side. 

From 'roadside snacks', a clutch of crisp onion and spinach bhajis are excellent (£3.50) and a plate of delicate pani puri makes for decent beer fodder, despite the chickpea filling lacking serious punch (£3.75).

Chicken momos, however, are a no-no. The filling may well be a delightful coming together of minced meat and spice, but getting to it requires dealing with the tepid, uncooked dough encasing it, so we abort.  

So far so middling, and it’s telling, perhaps, that despite the restaurant’s new direction, the meal’s highlight is an old turn from a short and snappy list of 'street curries'. Yep, the dhaba chicken (£7) is a bona fide belter (alluring enough for me to turn a blind eye to the rapidness in which it lands on the table just seconds after the starters are taken away), seasoned liberally, and with a real kick and slow-burning heat.  

A saag paneer, heavy on the greens and light on the cheese, isn’t half bad either (£6), and the warm breads we use to scoop and smear it all (roti £1.75, garlic naan £2.75) are fluffy and fresh.

Side note: if this was a post-pub takeaway, then a dreary salad wouldn’t get a mention, but for a restaurant looking to move away from late-night curry house tropes I had hoped for more than the wedge of shredded cabbage and nubs of aged tomato that £2.25 gets you here. And, while we’re at it, I’m not sure that there’ll be too many folk supping the High Wire at six quid a pint.  

Hey-ho. Dessert picks up the pieces, where an apple and cinnamon samosa’s sweet pastry and molten fruity filling (£4.50) is reminiscent of the much-missed McDonald’s apple pie  – but a far better version.

There are good intentions and a good curry to be found at The Crafty Indian, but things feel a little frayed around the edges. Perhaps it’d be an idea, then, to treat the team to a trip out somewhere beginning with, let’s say, Bundo and ending in Bust, where the service is warm, the food sharp and the returning punters are plentiful.  

The Crafty Indian, 34-38 Bradford Road, Shipley, BD18 3NT  

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