Our latest mini Guest review has been submitted by reader Sumera Farman. We’ve added some of my own comments reference food and service in italics from my experience of eating at the same restaurant a few months earlier when it first opened so have provided some additional comments and scores in italic. This is a special 2 for 1 review!
Over to you Sumera!
This is my first review, and I have chosen to review Shahi Masala an Indian, Italian & Chinese Buffet Restaurant located on 8 Burney Lane, Ward End, Birmingham, West Midlands B8 2AS. The building is a former pub that has been converted into a restaurant. The exterior retains the traditional facade that is a familiar design feature of large pubs in the city benefiting from ample car parking. The restuarant is one of the few large scale halal dining places in that part of Ward End comfortably seating over 130 people and is a short journey away from Star City.
The restaurant benefits from a light and clean interior decor, the table arrangement is designed to seat smaller parties and couples but tables can be brought together to seat larger parties. There is a small waiting area upon entry into the restaurant and a range of soft drinks, mocktails and juices are available from the drinks counter.
The buffet is a help yourself service offer which begins with the Indian counter which leads to the Chinese counter at the back with Italian options available at the far end. The restaurant has a separate dessert counter which is located centrally in the food service area where a range of more traditional starters can also be found.
In terms of prices a lunchtime buffet offer is available at £6.95 which runs from 12pm till 3pm. The evening buffet service begins at 5pm with a price of £10.95 Sun to Thursday and a higher price of £13.95 on Fridays and Saturdays. Prices for children aged 3 to 9 remain £4.95 throughout the week.
Going on a Tuesday meant I didn’t get a chance to enjoy the chocolate fountain which is available as a menu option on Friday and Saturday evenings. I went with my family and we enjoyed a number of different dishes including samosas, prawn crackers, calzone and pizza. I also had some achari gosht with naan, some garlic butter fish, and vegetarian pasta. For dessert we had jelly with ice cream, and sponge cake, while my family opted for the gajar halwa. I also had the tornado twist mock-tail while my brother had a banana milkshake and the rest of the family had a jug of coke.
All in all it was a good night and the food was excellent as was the price. The only downfall was they took a lot of time bringing out the drinks. £10.95 per head on weekday evenings, which was reasonable as it was an eat all you want for 3 hours policy. Drinks are charged separately but are reasonable if they are jugs (you get 4-5 glasses out of them)
One caveat to my experience is that we went when the restaurant first opened. The Chinese food was cooked to order with the other food being pre prepared. My feeling is that the restuarant may be trying to do to much with three different cuisines but time will be the best judge of that.
Sumera’s Scores
Food: 9/10
Service: 8/10 as they were slow with the drinks
Space: 10/10
Price: 9/10
Halal Food Review’s scores
Food 6/10
Service 5/10
Space 7/10
Prices 7/10 ( Value varies depending on when you go )
Overall score 6/10
The Halal Food Review 