Alright, orders placed, wine glasses in hand, and the anticipation building. We settled in, sipping our wine, and indulging in a bit of aimless banter, all eyes on the prize - the Vindaloo.

When it arrived, it looked pretty as a picture. But hold on, where's the biryani rice? Blink and you might miss it! The papadum practically played hide-and-seek with the dish, giving the presentation a bit of a flat performance. Once the papadum made its exit, we were left with what seemed more like an appetizer-sized portion of biryani rice. Talk about a tease! The pickled vegetables? Well, they tasted a lot like, you guessed it, pickled coleslaw. The biryani, though visually appealing, turned out to be all style and no substance - lacking flavor, a tad undercooked, and feeling more like a boil-in-bag 'authentic' experience.

First bite of the curry, and it showed promise - simple, straightforward flavor. But, hold the phone, why didn't the meat get the memo? It seemed like it was living in a different flavor universe compared to the curry. Was it cooked separately and then crash-landed into the curry? As I soldiered on, I couldn't shake the feeling of déjà vu. The dish lacked complexity, leaving me yearning for more. The rice made a disappearing act in no time, leaving me high and dry with the curry.

In the end, it was a glorified soup; missing the flavor, texture, and the undeniable 'oomph' that South Asian cuisine is all about. De Baun & Co Pub might want to consider retiring this one from their menu – it's just not doing the Vindaloo justice! 🍛✨🚫