Restaurant Spy keeps going on about Tunbridge Wells being a super-duper place to eat so Mrs Stalsis and I decided to give it a whirl. We settled on a new, and swish-looking, Indian restaurant: Masala. Things looked promising as we climbed the classy staircase and entered a large first-floor room, nicely laid out with proper furnishings, a pale deep-pile carpet, frosted glass, and zooming waiters. The place was full with with-it looking diners, and there was not a shred of red flock wallpaper to be seen.

However, the service was very hit and miss. We had five or six different waiters during the evening, and had several times to call for items we had ordered but which hadn't appeared. They were busy, and we hadn't booked, I know, but they need to improve their service. One chap on his own was seated next to us and was ignored so studiously, and for such a long time, that he finally left in dignified disgust. That is a disaster - surely - from a restaurant's point of view. But the usual Indian restaurant indifference was apparent. I don't want to be asked repeatedly, 'Is everything alright?' I want them to do more to ENSURE that it is alright, especially when they've seen me asking more than once for stuff I've ordered but which hasn't come. But worse than this: the food was very ordinary Anglo-Indian curryhouse stuff, and - guess what? - it was NOT HOT ENOUGH, Perry's usual complaint. It's no good having swish carpets and stylish design, you need to think about everthything. I suggest Masala start with improving the quality of their customer service and try to get their food to the table before it starts getting cold. Not terrible just very disappointing. Perry Stalsis 2004