Asmara in Northumberland

Rhianna, Maddie & Ash gave all round excellent service on my visit. The food was fantastic, the Chicken Madras was top class. Thanks again to the Asmara team..highly recommended

Our usual Indian takeaway weren't answering the phone so decided to take a chance and try somewhere different. And we weren't disappointed. On ordering, we were told our meal would be delivered within the hour. It arrived in 40 minutes. It came in 2 separate bags, hot and cold. It was all lovely. Tender, tasty meat and care had been taken with the accompaniments. The salad was nicely served in a tub, unlike a bit of lettuce, slice of cucumber and tomato in a plastic bag that we usually expect. What a find. We'll definitely be using Asmara in future for our takeaway delivery.

Amazing as always. The food and service here is second to none. Great flavour, lovely staff and a warm and comfortable place to eat. There is nothing to fault in this place. I will come back time and time again!

How this place gets good ratings is beyond me!!!! I’ve now tried this place a few times Hoping it gets better and I’ve just caught them on a bad day or the main chef is off etc. sadly, that is not the case, this place is consistently poor. Mixed grill starter - was tough/chewy and almost felt ‘bought in’ not freshly made. I’ve had frozen ones from MA brothers (local indian supermarket) that tasted exactly the same. Masala and korma had the consistency of water and lacked flavour. Could taste some almond but no coconut or sugar. South Indian chilli & garlic - this tasted like a bowl of tomatoes and garlic. Again, lacked flavour but the chicken tikka in was nice of soft as you’d expect. Tandoori Lamb chops had a nice flavour but nearly pulled my teeth out the meat was that tough. Coconut pilau had chunks of sugar in it. Either from a sugar cube or crystallised sugar that had not dissolved. Garlic chips were chunky and plenty garlic on them, these were nice. Couldn’t fault the naan breads, light, fluffy and tasted really nice. The seats in this restaurant is the worst I have sat on. They are extremely uncomfortable and very small. We were in agony by the end of the meal. Overall - just a lack of care and attention in the food and restaurant. Blyth is one of them places where people don’t leave and the locals have no other choice but to ‘put up’ with mediocre food at best and they rate this as very good as it’s all they have. They really need to expand their palates. The restaurant is very dated which every attempt has been made to mask this with fake trees. There is now superior Indian restaurants in nearby towns such as Cramlington, Morpeth Whitley bay and Tynemouth.

We went to Asmara on new years eve at about 17:00 hrs for a curry, we have been here many times before and have always been happy with the service and the quality of the food. We were given a "special menu" for it being new years eve, the menu did not have prices printed on it but we assumed it would be a little bit more than usual what with it being new years eve, we should have asked about the price. I had 2 pints of Cobra with my special meal and my partner had a glass of coke her her special meal as the coffee machine was apparently broken. The special meal was nothing out of the ordinary 3 courses but they charged us over 105GBP for it, what a rip off.

This spot is great for casual night out. First class service and first class food, in a very elegant restaurant.

Friendly staff, efficient even though they were short staffed - they managed everything very well. Absolutely gorgeous food. Very well priced and the drinks menu must be the cheapest ever and lots of good choice. Highly recommended!

Our first visit to this restaurant having recently moved into the area. We were pleasantly surprised by the decor and ambience although if I’m being picky the vibrations caused when staff and customers walked across the floor boards was a distraction. There was a good menu selection but we stuck with favourites when making our selection. The food was well presented, well cooked and tasty, portion size was good. We each ordered starters, a main but shared a rice and a naan bread. Service was friendly, professional and efficient. Already planning to revisit. Ser

Amazing full menu and the food was delicious. The coconut pilau rice was amazing. The staff were really friendly throughout. Drink selection was good. A young toddler had made a mess just as we were arriving and the waitresses tidied up no hassle at all and were brilliant in service all night. As we were leaving it really started to fill up (even on a Monday night). Very impressed.

Turned up without a booking but we were found a table, which was great. Good service. Drinks and food arrived quickly. The food was amazing. Definitely in my top five best curries ever! I had the Bengal Chicken Murgh. Well spiced, fresh with a hint of mint. Delicious. My wife had chicken shashlik and that was super tasty with a hint of spice and chicken was moist. There was even a kids curry selection which was great for my daughter. Just really lovely.

I have been visiting here for years, and the past two times the service has been very disappointing. The last time there were 5 of us for a birthday meal and we sat for over 30 minutes wth no drinks in between starters and mains, it was busy but staff walked past us a number of times and I actually had to stop them to request more drinks. At a meal that was over £120 I expected better but gave them the benefit of the doubt. Tonight however it was not busy and we were still left with no drinks as staff walked past, there was only one other table and plenty of staff so no excuse really, the nan bread came after we had ate half out mains also. This is such a shame as I believe the food is the best in Blyth but the service that used to be as good as the food has definitely slipped and it is a shame as it has put us off going back. The staff are very nice when they served but that doesn't help when they walk straight past you a number of times. Will still order a take away .

First time we have had food from Asmara it was beautiful nice portion,s size could not fault a thing delivered in an hour great service with a smile tyvm Asmara we will be booking again

Great food sreved by cheerfull freindly staff, first visit in nearly 2 years due to the dreaded covid but still as great as ever.

Came across Asmara while in Blyth. We had no reservation but they kindly found us a table on a busy night. The food was absolutely fab. Lovely seating area to wait in before being lead to our table. All the staff without exception were polite and friendly. Would recommend for a lovely night out.

By far the best Indian food I have tasted. Absolutely delicious! To start we had the asmara mixed grill and the spiced chilli King prawns followed by a chicken madras and the South Indian garlic and chilli chicken tikka. Along with the usual accompaniments (naans poppadoms, rice and chips) Fabulous! Will defo order from here again

Absolutely fantastic Indian food from a local restaurant. We ordered 4 Thursday night special banquets for a family of 4 to takeaway in the current climate. The starters were superb and accompanying salads were all light and crispy. We opted for the onion Bhaji, 2 x mixed kebab and a Bhuna prawn on Puri. The mains were equally amazing. The kids loved their Chicken Pathia and Chicken Tikka Masala. My wife went for the healthy option Tandoori Grill Chicken Tikka Masala which looked fantastic. She's got enough left for another meal. I would normally go for a Lamb Madras; however, following a recommendation from a friend, I opted for one of the Asmara special creations - Tok Jal Mishti with Lamb - an absolute winner !! Cooked with molasses, it has a sweetness balanced with the heat from the chilli - a superb thick sauce. The lemon pilau rice is a winner too !!Portions were great. The excellent quality of the food was what you would expect from a great Indian restaurant, and the service matched the food - fantastic !! Thank you Asmara, Jamal and your team. We'll definitely be back. Can't recommend this place enough.

5* Fast delivery, tasty food. Well presented. Fantastic value for money. Will be ordering again. Keep up the good work x

We have been here a number of times before. I have always meant to leave a review, but have always forgotten. This place is the best. Excellent service, wonderful food. What more needs to be said? Apart from the hygiene standards are excellent too. Very conscientious in their cleaning regimes to ensure they are as safe as possible. I would highly recommend.

I love this restaurant as it has a very calm feeling, the food is spot on beautifully presented and very tasty and served timely. Great staff too.

Excellent food and a great atmosphere as usual, good covid measures in place staff wearing visors and always sanitising hands. Food was lovely and all my friends agreed, staff friendly and helpful. The staff even went to the extra mile to ensure we enjoyed our time. Regardless of the current covid measures we still had a great time like normal. 100% would recommend to anyone if you want fantastic food with fantastic service! 10/10 from me.

The staff at Asmara really looked after us well, very accommodating! And the food was top class will definitely be back and will be recommending to friends and family.

All of the food was amazing and all of the staff were extremely safe with COVID, all wearing visors and regularly getting customers and themselves to Sanitise their hands. Would Definitely go again!

A lovely restaurant serving superb Indian food. A varied menu of dishes cooked well and presented beautifully. The staff were friendly and helpful, nothing had to be asked for , it was there. Definitely worth a visit. The COVID 19 rules all in place without being intrusive or uncomfortable.

We ate here whilst staying overnight nearby. We were looking forward to it having read the reviews and we weren't disappointed. The food was divine - poppadums, pickles, chicken dansak, lamb bhuna, coconut rice, garlic naan. All were superb. Service was friendly and cheerful, with masks and visors in use by most staff - the manager(?) didn't seem to be wearing either at any point during the evening, despite greeting customers on arrival, circulating between the tables to check all was okay, etc. The tables etc were all spotlessly clean though with perspex screens fitted for extra protection. We felt safe and would definitely go back if we lived nearer. Next time we're in Blyth...

We visited the restaurant for a pre birthday meal for my husband. We had never been before and can’t wait to return. Social distancing was fully in place, staff were polite and attentive and the meal itself delicious.

First time back since lockdown and won’t be going again soon. Social distancing was non existent. There were 10 male ‘drinkers’ sitting in the reception area drinking like it was free - all sitting around the same small set of tables with no social distancing. Some female serving staff had visas but the men didn’t and one of the waitress’ in particular wore it ‘up’ all night making it pointless. Dining positions were not all 2m apart and people were freely moving between tables to chat and it one instance kiss and cuddle other diners at the table next to us. Food was ok but whole experience was worrying.

Excellent food, excellent service and atmosphere, Very tasty. going back again tonight, highly recommended

Came in for a takeaway, Fantastic food, polite staff and a nice venue, Overall great great service, Highly recommended, see you soon.

Looked on TripAdvisor and read reviews. To be honest thought we'd get a decent meal...how wrong was I...it was fantastic. We went for the Thursday night deal...fabulous...not only was the food first class so were all the staff. Lamb Sag, the most tender lamb I've ever eaten in a Indian restaurant. We enjoyed it so much we booked again for Friday night and were not disappointed. Wish we lived nearer.

Very very nice one of the best curries ive ever had I got the lamb tikka, chilli mosalla, the meat was so tender and the mix of spices were so tasty, highly recommended!

Decided to stop into Asmara’s while on a walk out & and it’s fair to say that we’ve enjoyed the food thoroughly. The service was great, staff were excellent and friendly, food was delicious and well presented, despite a worldwide pandemic going on, the staff had taken the necessary cautions to ensure the safety of diners while remaining friendly and lively. Which made our dining experience a whole lot better. So thumbs up! Recommend this place highly! If not, you’re missing out

Ordered a meal tonight as a treat. I ordered a tandoori main Nan chips salad and sauce. Oh my god the food was amazing, delivered piping hot and on time. meat was cooked perfectly( not rubbery like some places) chips were also cooked very well and (not greasy like some places). Salad was presented in a round tub fresh and a good size. I’m not one for writing reviews for every place I eat but this place deserves a review! I will definitely be ordering again! Great work guys 5 stars ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️⭐️ ⭐️

We were able to order the meal the day before for an early delivery. It came on time and piping hot.The meal exceeded our expectations , tasted beautiful ,full of flavour .We can't wait to try the Thursday night special . Thank You Asmara .

We visits here on a weekly basis absolutely beautiful food and lovely friendly staff value for money wouldn’t go anywhere else

Just visited on the off chance of having a meal, the place was full but the staff really helpful and got us a table and the meal was really good Service was excellent from start to finish.

Food was amazing,service excellent and what we didnt eat we took home for the next day,finished our drinks off in the bar area,very cosy.

A HUGE family success - our first ever family meal in an Indian restaurant. So what, I hear you cry? But when you have a 14 year old child with severe anaphylaxis, it's a monumental step! Casting aside my own neurotic, unrealistic and irrational thoughts (as a Mother), it was amazing! From the initial booking, the staff were accomodating, empathic,and so helpful. Our gorgeous boy enjoyed a real 'taste bud explosion' regarding Indian food and we will definitely be going back. Happy happy days - thank you so much for a truly memorable evening.

Lovely interior, pleasant staff and huge menu with all the classics but lots of new things to try too.All the food was beautifully presented and tasted wonderful. Portions weren’t huge but just enough since we couldn’t make up our minds so ordered too much anyway! Everything cooked really well and flavours were fresh and tasty. Complimentary boozy coffee at the end was nice tooWill definitely go again

My wife and I visit Asmara regularly and not once has the food been poor quality. Food is always amazing, served with a smile and perfect Indian Service!Also, on occasion we have ordered food to be delivered. There is no difference in quality of the food and it is always hot on arrival. Asmara also has a stylish gin bar, perfect for meeting up with friends and family before sitting down to eat.We couldn't recommend Asmara highly enough.

Went last night for a takeaway at Asmara which was very delicious but also enjoyed a couple of drinks while waiting in the new refurbished lounge which was done very tastefully .The staff also at Asmara are very pleasant and professional will definitely be back.

Visited this restaurant last night for the first time with a large group, it is upstairs and it is very nice upstairs with a bar and the restaurant, staff were very pleasant, we had pompadoms and pickle to start with, various starters I had chicken tikka was was very nice, then people had various mains chicken was nice and tender and we had a selection of rice, nan breads and chips on the table, certainly plenty to eat. Price was reasonable but don't think they know prices of drinks from the bar as a few of us were charged different prices each time we ordered for the same drinks - don't know if the price varies as to going to the bar yourself or having the waitress bring the drinks. I would certainly recommend this restaurant and would go back again

Came here for a meal on a whim. I'm vegan and they were very accommodating. Had rogan josh which came full of actual cherry tomatoes and it wasn't overloaded with chilli which I find most Indians do and spoil the food at least it does for me. It's the most I've enjoyed a curry in a long time and will definitely be returning.

We both had lovely meals in this very nice Indian restaurant the service was very good with friendly staff the restaurant has good atmosphere But they charge me £5 50p for 2halfs of lager when 1pt is £4 30p why do that?

Immaculately clean, delightful decor, perfect customer service. The food was exceptional, and as a vegetarian I can’t often say that. The omnivores in our group of 4 were equally satisfied .

We made a mistake looking for a different restaurant and stumbled upon this lovely restaurant by accident. Best wrong turn ever! Great food, service and atmosphere! Nothing too much bother! Visited by Grumpy Old Surfer and Cooking in a Camper

I visited with two friends for a birthday meal and i am not a regular at indian restaurants.

Excellent establishment, decorated to perfection, staff were impeccably pleasant making you feel welcomed and relaxed, the food was delicious, I wasn’t a big fan of Indian food but after visiting Asmara I can categorically say i am now, really can’t fault the service and would highly recommend that people visit and experience the high quality food and hospitality.

Good food, ok price, But had an issue- asked for a poppadom with pickles

Beautiful food. Nice portions. Prices have increased significantly since last visit 6 months ago. Diet cold was terrible! Watered down badly.

Casual eatery, but I would give it more stars if possible, the food is fantastic, best Asian / Indian spot in Blyth. Best king prawns and very good cocktails. Friendly service, my wife and I have dinner here often and always enjoy ourselves.

I visit Blyth at least Four times a year and always look for an Indian restaurant. My family took me to Asmara I have to say it’s the best meal I have had in a long time. The service and the staff were very friendly and the food was some of best I have ever tasted .

Been many times to Asmara but first time since a refurbishment. The place looks very trendy now with a cocktail lounge area. The service has always been great here as has the food. Definitely worth a visit if you like Indian food. Beware you have to go up one flight of stairs to get in.

With friends, visiting more friends, partaking in what Blyth had to offer of a Friday evening after a few beers. Deceptive as you can’t tell how busy it is from street level, but a decent crowd in, once we’d climbed the stairs. Didn’t use the snug like lounge area on this occasion, maybe next time. Able to accommodate the 3 of us, without any hassle, and fed in a prompt fashion.

Have been here many times and never disappointedGreat food great service and great value for money,as always. Will be back soon😁😁

Fantastic food and an excellent lounge to chill out in after with a few drinks! Will definitely be back!

Been for the thursday special, WOW! It was fantastic, great service, friendly staff, excellent value for money!! Extra bonus was mint chocolate chip ice cream aswell as vanilla available which is my favourite! They have really created an authentic experience a modern twist. Would definitely recommend and will be returning soon.

Visited here for 2 birthdays and weren’t disappointed. Chose from the Sunday set menu and the food was fresh, tasty and in abundance, especially good for a special menu. Our hosts greeted us with Birthday balloons which was a lovely touch! Service was attentive and not overbearing. Can’t wait to try the new gin and cocktail lounge before our next visit!

Visited with husband tonight. Best Indian food I’ve had in a long time. Food excellent, staff first class. Decor smashing and the ladies toilets , well, blingiest loos I’ve ever been in, also the cleanest. Would recommend to anyone. Will definitely go back

I like Asana as the food is first class. They still (on my last visit) use proper chicken in meals where so many of the Indian restaurants seem to be going for these pre-flavoured part cooked frozen chicken chunks which you can spot a mile off.

Incredible evening. Loved the food. Fantastic staff. Would 100% advise to anyone who would like to visit.

Went the extra mile for a family birthday, super friendly and very polite. Would 100% recommend to anyone. Thanks.

Had a nice meal with family, service is very good. Starters were a bit small but ok, mains were good. I'd certainly return.

Enjoyed a lovely meal great food excellent service in beautiful surroundings the wife particularly liked the ladies toilets

In a party of 6 all of whom really enjoyed the food. it is a good atmosphere place with a naturally welcoming and professional host. If you like indian food Asmara comes highly recommended.

A very warm welcome on arrival, restaurant is airy and spacious, we opted for the three course set menu off what was a very varied menu. The portions were big and served piping hot with a smile from al the staff who were attentive without being overbearing. We finished our visit with complementery drinks in a very comfortable cocktail lounge.

Went to this restaurant last night for belated birthday with my fiance and the service and food was high standard. Even took it off their own back to do a surprise dessert with big sparkler in. absolutly amazing food and great atmosphere

The staff were very freindly and atentive without being intrusive or overbearing, the food was served hot and we were given plenty of time between courses to digest what we had eaten, have a natter and a drink. We all had different dishes and we all agreed it was a long time since we had a meal anywhere near as good as Asmara's. We then ended the night with complimentry drinks in the very comfortable cocktail lounge,

Visited here several times now since under new management. The food is really tasty, staff are really friendly and will explain in detail if you are unsure what something is on the menu, the cocktail lounge has been done out beautifully and the sofas are so comfy didn't want to leave, see you again soon!

Came to Asmara for my birthday and theres only really one word that covers our experience......AMAZING!!!!!! Food was amazing, service was top notch, atmosphere was authentic. Really couldn't fault a thing!! Cant wait to go again.

A sparkling jewel in a town somewhat bereft of good evening restaurants. We had great cocktails in the brilliantly decorated lounge followed by good quality Indian restaurant fare - served with smiles and a bit of banter.

This restaurant has changed hands and it shows...horrible ...onion bhaji's were burnt and tasteless..our tikka and kurma curries were that of a sweet...had to have poured a bag of sugar into the mix...grotesque. Nice decor for which I give 2 stars

We were 6 cyclists on our way from Newcastle to Edinburgh on a Thursday night. We had booked in advance because tables for 6 can be a squeeze. Just as well as restaurant was very popular. For good reason. Food excellent. Every dish had its own distinctive flavour. Sri Lanka chilli chicken and the fish curry were highlights but all good. Good pre dinner Margherita too!

Came in with some friends and had chicken tikka masala with chicken rice. Wonderful staff and food. defiantly recommend. The restaurant looked lovely and I can’t wait for the new gin bar to open.

We landed out of the blue as a group of 8 on a Sunday evening and were unsure of we could be accommodated. But we were welcomed in an treat like royalty. The food and service was fabulous, the decor was modern and the atmosphere was relaxed.

We booked online in the morning, a table for six. We were visiting the area for the Rugby finals so we looked for recommendations and we were not disappointed! Our table was for 2130 and you kind of assume that, by that time, things would be in wound-down but that was not the case. Warm welcome. Great restaurant which is modern, fabulously decorated and the menu is so good. Not your normal array of “standards” but some really great Bangladeshi cuisine which offered something for every taste. We ate well and felt valued as customers. So I’ve no hesitation in recommending Asmara. A wonderful restaurant.

It’s a while since I’ve been and it looked like it had been redecorated. We just got a takeaway but the food was beautiful. Jalfrezi was very fragrant and tasted superb. The rice was equally good and they threw in some free poppadoms too. Excellent food.

A great place to eat and collect takeaway. Very comprehensive menu with some great options. Food quality, service and price are very good. The staff are welcoming and friendly, provide a very professional service and happy to chat to all customers. Jamal in particular works hard to ensure customer satisfaction. A must try is the mango cider. We will be back again next month!

We were in Blyth on business, I rang a pal who lives local and asked him to recommend somewhere to eat, the décor was excellent, the staff were friendly and the food was spot on, couldn't fault a thing about the place. Will definitely go back, even though I live 25 miles away

First visit and won't be the last. Lovely food in nice surroundings and very reasonable at under sixty pounds for three people with a bottle of wine and beers.

Being unable to get into my favorite indian restaurant, led me to try this new restaurant in Blyth Town Centre.

Went with friends after hearing it had recently been taken over, got to say it was amazing not only the food but the staff couldn’t do enough for you, and got yo mention the loo’s .....WOW

Lovely to see the changes. Food and staff lovely . Good variety of food choices. Will be back soon as it's the best Indian .

It's nice if you don't want coffee. Wasn't as good as the last time only because we were told they had a fresh pot on a nd we never got it.in In the end asked fir the bill and left. The food was good and hot and served fairly quickly but I didn't get any king prawns in my biriyanni not that I could see unless they were minced down through it. Prices appear to also be a bit higher as well. All in all average

Loved the restaurant and the very tasty food. All good. King prawn was perfect. Nice ambience and service all recommended.

visited this restaurant with my nephew and his wife while visiting them recently.

This has to be the best Indian restaurant ever. The place is done out beautifully, all the staff are so friendly and the food is to die for. Absolute perfection and I will definitely be visiting this restaurant more often. Highly, highly recommended.

I used this restaurant a lot but had not been lately, until I was told it had new owners who I know one of them very well, So we had to give it a try, and after a lovely warm welcome we got down to the food, which was fantastic and a big change from the old place, the new owners kept the old staff on and that was a good choice the staff are brilliant. The new décor is lovely and warm looking the place is looking great, and again the food was fantastic. go and give it a try you wont be dissapointed

Have visited Asmara’s numerous times before but this was the first time since take over by new management. I was not disappointed. The staff were friendly and attentive and very quick to correct a (small) error with the (large) order - even though they were very busy. The atmosphere was good and food was delicious. Our party ordered quite a spread from across the menu and there were no complaints. The changes they have made to the restaurant layout are for the better. I hope the business goes from strength to strength and look forward to going again soon.

Really like the new decor! Service was excellent, wine was excellent, food was delicious as always. my favourite Indian restaurant in the area

Visited on a Friday night around 8pm. The changes made by the new owners is instantly noticeable. Nice clean fresh decoration to the whole place.

Booked for second sitting at 8:45 pm with friends- 9 of us. We have been to the Asmara as a group and as couples on many occasions over the years. Sadly I’m not sure my husband and I will be back . It has recently had a change of management and what they described as teething problems will loose them a lot of business if not addressed ASAP. On a positive note the food was very good when we got it!! We didn’t get our table until after 9:30 , the table wasn’t set and we only got bits of cutlery as the food arrived . We had to ask for drinks after about 10 minutes and they came one drink at a time. Starters took a while and then there was a huge gap before some of the group got their mains. 3 of us waited a further 15 minutes for our mains ,when everyone else had finished. At this point staff were leaving it was so late. There were half hearted apologises and when prompted a liqueur was given but we were never offered the coffee or ice cream on the menu. As a result we were still there at the stroke of midnight but left soon afterwards.

Went for a meal last night - service is fabulous, food was lush, bill was fantastic! What else can I say - Jamal and Faz are eager to please and nothing too much trouble. All staff are very friendly. Thank you

Had a beautiful meal here tonight. Food took a little while to be served but to me that is a good thing as it was obviously freshly prepared. Reasonable prices. Lovely friendly staff. Excellent service . Well done Asmara! !

What are you waiting for. Try this wonderful restaurant. Best Indian meal in Northumberland. Nothing too much trouble. Children most welcome.

a very nice clean restaurant with friendly staff the food was really good both our meals were good The restaurant is upstairs so not handy if our old or disabled but well worth a vist

The restaurant is very friendly with an excellent choice of dishes. Our meals were very tasty and beautifully presented

So we were camping for the late May Bank Holiday in Blyth. 2nd night we went for a mooch around and passed by this restaurant ASMARA. Food was well presented staff were efficient, friendly and nothing was too much bother.

First of All I would like to say that the Romanian staff there are superb, very helpful and pleasant........well done!!!!

Four of us decided to have a meal without a reservation. Abdul the owner assisted us. The food was top notch and the family run Indian Restaurant is the best in Blyth.

Visited here on a Thursday night with friends - arrived and greeted by lovely staff. Staff were very attentive throughout the night. Took orders no problem - my friends all had the special menu and said it was lush! Me and my sister didn't get the specials, wasn't an issue at all. Starters were lovely and fresh. I had the tandoori prawns and couldn't fault it! Nice and fresh. Good value for money too bar the price of a Diet Coke. Other than that everything was delicious!