Nihari and lassi at Mirch Masala London revealed a national secret

[Petrolhead]

A trip to Mirch Masala, Tooting, London resulted in learning a few lessons and revealing a national secret

Mirch Masala owner Riaz Sabir

Riaz Sabir with Imran Khan


Went to Mirch Masala, Tooting branch in London last night with a friend for dinner. Although the objective was to dine out and relax only, I came back with a few learning points about dear Pakistanis.

Before I mention my experience at Mirch Masala let me share another experience from a few weeks ago - Another friend took me to a Turkish restaurant in Central London. While leaving the restaurant I noticed a big picture of the restaurant's owner with Nawaz Sharif. It wasn't too surprising for me as Istanbul, Turkey is one of the favourite destinations of the Sharif Brothers and they must have made many friends and business associates over there. If I had noticed the picture while entering the restaurant I would have turned back. I have no shame in admitting that I hate Nawaz Sharif and his family members.

Now let's go back to the Mirch Masala restaurant.................

While having my dinner I noticed Imran Khan's photo with the restaurant owner Riaz Sabir. Now this was very surprising for me. Why??? I understood that Riaz Sabir was in Nawaz Sharif's circles and provided food to him during Nawaz Sharif's stay in London.

Riaz Sabir was present in the restaurant at that time but I found it more sensible to ask one of the apparently-more-senior restaurant staff about the picture. I asked him why they had Imran's picture hanging in the restaurant whilst the restaurant owner is like friends with Imran's biggest rival Nawaz Sharif. The response I received was - At one time Riaz Sabir was close to Imran Khan but then he switched side as Imran Khan was of no use to the restaurant owner.

LEARNING POINT NUMBER 1
This showed typical Pakistani (not everyone but the majority) mentality which put our personal interest above the national interest.

LEARNING POINT NUMBER 2 (ON A COMPARATIVELY LIGHTER SIDE)
Asked the staff member why they still had Imran Khan's picture in the restaurant if the owner had switched side. The response was that the restaurant's Gora user base didn't recognise Nawaz Sharif so there is no use in hanging his picture. On the other hand Imran Khan is a very famous figure and his picture with the owner leaves a good impression.

Tells us something about the profile of Pakistan's premier.

LEARNING POINT NUMBER 3 - The National Secret
My friend and I ate Nihari and Haleem with Salty Lassi. Usually we can eat a lot, and I really mean a lot (Its worth mentioning that my friend is a Kashmiri Butt, just like Nawaz Sharif). But after eating comparatively smaller size portions of Nihari and Haleem at Mirch Masala we were unbelievably stuffed. So much so that we didnt order any desert, in spite of the fact that the desi style Kulfi looked very tempting. As a result, we were heavy and dozy - We finally understood why Nawaz Sharif feels the same all the time by eating the very Nihari which he often devours. In other words we learnt the national secret behind Pakistans top politicians lazy body and even lazier mind.

 

[Qalandari1]

Mirch Masala Tooting's food is below average. Who goes there anyways regardless of political affiliation.

 

[a.khawaja]

Mirch Masala Tooting's food is below average. Who goes there anyways regardless of political affiliation.

when did u have their food? i go their once a month and enjoy their food quite a lot. i even hired them to cater for my wedding.

 

[Pir Wahab]

lol i live just opposite to this shop on upper tooting road but i had never been there because they dont have the good meal as we customer expect from this..... i usually go to dawat or chatkhara in tooting bec one of my best resturarant

 

[Qalandari1]

when did u have their food? i go their once a month and enjoy their food quite a lot. i even hired them to cater for my wedding.

Shows your choice.

 

[GujjarPakistani]

Daawat is worst...I have been there once,

lol i live just opposite to this shop on upper tooting road but i had never been there because they dont have the good meal as we customer expect from this..... i usually go to dawat or chatkhara in tooting bec one of my best resturarant

 

[deathchallenger]

Lolz, Mirch Masala is relatively v small,unknown and rubbish place to eat in Tooting. May be if it was Spice village,it made more sense. Anyway my perception was that Nawaz Sharif would go for more high end restaurants then Tooting :) Just a thought...

 

[a.khawaja]

Shows your choice.

maybe. not any different from your profile pic showing your choice

 

[a.khawaja]

Lolz, Mirch Masala is relatively v small,unknown and rubbish place to eat in Tooting. May be if it was Spice village,it made more sense. Anyway my perception was that Nawaz Sharif would go for more high end restaurants then Tooting :) Just a thought...

i once saw nawaz sharif dinning at mirch masala commercial street branch. that was in the days of his exile

 

[Qalandari1]

maybe. not any different from your profile pic showing your choice

I was not the one to budge in your post. I just don't like middle class restaurant foods so what can I do if you like one. I would prefer a road side small tea shop or a 5-7 star hotel period.

 

[a.khawaja]

I was not the one to budge in your post. I just don't like middle class restaurant foods so what can I do if you like one. I would prefer a road side small tea shop or a 5-7 star hotel period.

well, only middle class food for us middle class people mate. cant afford 7 star and there isn't any small road side tea shops here in London selling halal food.

 

[Qalandari1]

well, only middle class food for us middle class people mate. cant afford 7 star and there isn't any small road side tea shops here in London selling halal food.

There are many in Pakistan where I live mostly.

 

[Petrolhead]

I was not the one to budge in your post. I just don't like middle class restaurant foods so what can I do if you like one. I would prefer a road side small tea shop or a 5-7 star hotel period.

Would appreciate a few suggestions for good restaurants in 5 - 7* hotels in London. No Thai or Japanese please. Other cuisines will be fine. Also, please provide suggestions based on your own experiences, no internet based or Food magazines/Newspapers based suggestions.

Many thanks in advance.

 

[a.khawaja]

There are many in Pakistan where I live mostly.

maybe you can take me to one when i come to Pakistan next time. maybe then we can discuss a little more politics then what we have been discussing on this thread :)

 

[crankthskunk]

@petrolhead,
Let me enlighten you further. The Owner of Mirch Masala had pictures with Imran since late 90s. When Imran was younger and more famous in cricketing circles. Riaz first Restaurant was in Norbury. For almost two decade he only had one restaurant.
During Sharifs stay in London Riaz got close to Sharifs and start to deliver them food from his restaurant. The first house I bought was in Norbury, therefore, I know this fellow reasonably well for last two decades.

After meeting Sharifs, Riaz all of sudden started to expend. He started to open new restaurants. Now he has branches in Tooting, Southall, Croydon and in East London. I also know his finances are not in great shape. I know few people close to him. I also know that his 3 restaurants in south London had been raided multiple times by the Home Office. He had been fined multiple times by the Home Office for employing aliens without proper papers. He had not settled the fines.

These are petty much confirmed news.

I have nagging feelings that Sharifs had invested in his Restaurants. It is just my hunch nothing concrete.
It has been said to me that Riaz had bought various Restaurants on different names. All I can say , something is not right.

I agree with Qalandari, the food of Mirch Masala is bad. Two months ago I had dinner in their Norbury branch, it was awful. I was traveling to central London didn't have enough time to go to my favorite restaurant in Tooting.

 

[Qalandari1]

Would appreciate a few suggestions for good restaurants in 5 - 7* hotels in London. No Thai or Japanese please. Other cuisines will be fine. Also, please provide suggestions based on your own experiences, no internet based or Food magazines/Newspapers based suggestions.

Many thanks in advance.

Holiday Villa
Royal Garden
The Bridge


Mainly in Central London to name a few for 24/7 halal. Tooting doesn't fall in proper London city.


But quiet a few others can prepare halal food when ordered beforehand.

 

[Qalandari1]

maybe you can take me to one when i come to Pakistan next time. maybe then we can discuss a little more politics then what we have been discussing on this thread :)

Yeah sure if I'm free.

 

[Petrolhead]

@petrolhead,
Let me enlighten you further. The Owner of Mirch Masala had pictures with Imran since late 90s. When Imran was younger and more famous in cricketing circles. Riaz first Restaurant was in Norbury. For almost two decade he only had one restaurant.
During Sharifs stay in London Riaz got close to Sharifs and start to deliver them food from his restaurant. The first house I bought was in Norbury, therefore, I know this fellow reasonably well for last two decades.

After meeting Sharifs, Riaz all of sudden started to expend. He started to open new restaurants. Now he has branches in Tooting, Southall, Croydon and in East London. I also know his finances are not in great shape. I know few people close to him. I also know that his 3 restaurants in south London had been raided multiple times by the Home Office. He had been fined multiple times by the Home Office for employing aliens without proper papers. He had not settled the fines.

These are petty much confirmed news.

I have nagging feelings that Sharifs had invested in his Restaurants. It is just my hunch nothing concrete.
It has been said to me that Riaz had bought various Restaurants on different names. All I can say , something is not right.

I agree with Qalandari, the food of Mirch Masala is bad. Two months ago I had dinner in their Norbury branch, it was awful. I was traveling to central London didn't have enough time to go to my favorite restaurant in Tooting.

Thanks for the information.

It's good that people are sharing their dinning experiences in London. Would be good to know your list of favourites. Not only in Tooting but all over and around London, even outside.

Let me start by listing my favourites:
Buffalo Grill, Luton (Steaks)
Nawabs, Manchester (Pakistani)
Mumtaz, Bradford (Pakistani/Kashmiri)
Patogh (Irani), Edgware Road, London
Colbeh (Irani), Edgware Road, London
Abu Zaad, (Syrian) Edgware Road, London
EastzEast, Manchester (Pakistani/Punjabi)
This n that, Manchester (Pakistani) (a small hidden place near Arndale Centre)

Apologies but my Pakistani dinning experience in and around London hasn't been great, rather it's been disappointing.

 

[IK For PK]

I was not the one to budge in your post. I just don't like middle class restaurant foods so what can I do if you like one. I would prefer a road side small tea shop or a 5-7 star hotel period.

You are as cheap as your leader, show off :angry_smile:

 

[Petrolhead]

Holiday Villa
Royal Garden
The Bridge


Mainly in Central London to name a few for 24/7 halal. Tooting doesn't fall in proper London city.


But quiet a few others can prepare halal food when ordered beforehand.

You listed three hotels, only one of them is a 5 star hotel.
Your list doesn't include any 6 or 7 star hotels.
You didn't mention the restaurants in these hotels. Big hotels have multiple restaurants, hence mentioning the hotel only is not helpful at all.

In future think before making tall claims which are difficult for you to back up.

I was not the one to budge in your post. I just don't like middle class restaurant foods so what can I do if you like one. I would prefer a road side small tea shop or a 5-7 star hotel period.