“AD” – Why is this here?

A huge congratulations to Pipasha for their recent success at the English Curry Awards. The recognition is no surprise for this incredibly popular Cambridge institution, which has won more awards than I can count. This year, they added ‘Chef of The Year’ to their already overflowing trophy wall – a testament to their enduring excellence and popularity.

I have been dining at Pipasha for decades, often as a pre-match tradition before taking my son to watch the mighty Cambridge United. While it is a conveniently located restaurant, it offers so much more than a mere convenience because it is home to some of the best Indian and Bangladeshi cuisine in this part of town.

As you step inside, you are not only greeted with a warm smile and a familiar face, but also by a wall of awards, a reassuring sign of the quality to come. While filming for my Instagram video outside, a complete stranger approached me to say how much they loved Pipasha and had been dining there for years. This sort of spontaneous endorsement is a clear sign of the cult-like following this place has earned.

Starters

I have reviewed Pipasha countless times in the past, so this time I decided to try something a little different. Pipasha is more than just curry and rice, and their extensive menu is filled with interesting and varied options.

Starters

For starters, we opted for the Fish Fry and the Sheek Kebab Roti. The Fish Fry was a generous portion, with each piece being a significant size and crispy on the outside with a delicate, lightly spiced flavour, giving way to soft white fish inside. The creamy dipping sauce elevated the dish, bringing it to life with a tangy flavour.

The Sheek Kebab Roti was a delightful surprise. Its size was actually more suited for a small lunch than a starter. The wrap was wonderfully soft with an earthy flavour, yet it was strong enough to hold together the generous filling of vegetables, sauce, and the entire kebab.

Thali

I was pleased to spot a small Thali section at the bottom of the menu, with both meat and vegetarian options available. Not many Bangladeshi restaurants offer a Thali, with it usually being an exclusively traditional Indian dish but I was looking forward to experiencing this interesting take.

The non-vegetarian Thali is a fantastic way to explore the menu. It includes your choice of a chicken, lamb, or vegetable option from the main menu, plus chicken tikka, yoghurt, rice, and naan. It allowed me to taste a wide range of dishes in one sitting without having to order multiple main courses or keep revisiting.

For my Thali, I chose the Korahi Prawn Sagwala, a lovely dish of tender tiger prawns and spinach, beautifully spiced with cumin seeds and coriander.

The Kodu Lamb from their House Specials menu also stood out. I was drawn to the unique use of cinnamon and fresh ginger with large chunks of butternut squash, which made a refreshing change from a typical curry.

I couldn’t resist the pull of their legendary Ponir Makhani for my chicken option. This is one of my favourite dishes, and Pipasha’s version is made with homemade Indian cheese, tomatoes, almonds, and warm spices like cloves and cinnamon. It was every bit as delicious as it sounds. My wife and I both agreed it was the highlight of the meal. The rich, creamy texture paired perfectly with the sweetness of the Peshwari Naan.

The only dish that left us feeling a little flat was the yoghurt. There was nothing wrong with it but it lacked flavour and had a slightly watery texture.

Otherwise, the Thali was hard to fault. Delicious!

Of course, no visit to Pipasha is complete without their legendary Saag Aloo. It was spot on as always, with a generous portion of spinach covering fluffy, soft potatoes.

Dessert

We ended the evening with a refreshing pistachio kulfi ice cream, served in four chunks with a garnish of pistachio nuts for an added crunch. It was soft, delicate, sweet, and creamy—a perfect sign-off to a fantastic meal.

The Bangladeshi style Thali

Unsurprisingly, Pipasha does it again. My first time trying their Thali menu was a real success and proved to be a great way to explore the vast menu. If you’re visiting for the first time, I highly recommend it. Pipasha truly is a restaurant that deserves a visit, even if you aren’t heading to football. For people looking for a more traditional Indian style of a Thali, this might not be for them but I thoroughly enjoyed this Bangladeshi take.

I wonder what award they will win next year? 🤣🤔

Thanks for reading