J10 RESTAURANT & VENUE, GUILDFORD STREET, LUTON
When the experts say location, location, location - they actually have a point. J10 is hidden away on Guildford Street, an area you probably wouldn't be visiting unless you know where you are heading. Otherwise you need Google Maps on your phone or need to walk along the street with your head craned high, so as not to miss it.
But as far as this place is concerned at the moment, location is the least of its problems. It's was past 7pm when friends and I entered and the place was totally empty, and it stayed so until we left a couple of hours later. The decor is lovely and modern and the smell of fresh paint still lingers, as the restaurant had only been open a couple of weeks.
What attracted us to J10 in the first place was the enticing Indian/European menu splashed all over the local newspaper. After a short discussion we decided to order starters off the Indian menu and main off the European. The head waiter (or was is perhaps the owner?) was completely hospitable, coming over to explain the menu and even offering to make dishes that weren't even on it. We decided to stick to what was on offer - mixed grill and tandoori wings as starters and salmon with ratatouille as main. The serving waitress was helpful and attentive and the complimentary poppadoms and dips were perfectly fine.
But the rest not so much. The grill was large for what we paid but it tasted of nothing but chillies. The chops and chicken looked and tasted suspiciously over a day old and the seekh kebabs were of the nasty variety which have more gram flour in them than meat. I didn't even venture over to the wings but was reliably told by my friends that they were just more of the same.
So while swigging Sprite (out of a can - not something you should see in such a nice looking establishment), I tried to clean out the spice to prepare for hopefully a less fiery main.
The salmon was marginally better, although you don't need to do a huge amount to this fish for it to taste good, except make sure it is fresh. The ratatouille it sat on was edible, although I felt it could have do with more seasoning, but perhaps the taste had been dulled by the starters? The topping of rocket was niether here nor there.
The sauce accompanying the fish did nothing for it and although I hate doing it, I saw myself reaching for the salt.
We all ate in a subdued manner, filling our stomachs rather than relishing our great looking dishes. Two of us managed to eat most of portions while the third gave up after a few mouthfuls.
We didn't bother with dessert and left shortly after paying a reasonable bill.
Nobody wants to leave a restaurant even partly hungry, but that was unfortunately the case that day. Perhaps J10 are having a few teething problems getting the balance of Indian and European dishes just right but I can't see any of us returning. Sorry guys, good service and the sole attention of the chef just isn't enough.
When the experts say location, location, location - they actually have a point. J10 is hidden away on Guildford Street, an area you probably wouldn't be visiting unless you know where you are heading. Otherwise you need Google Maps on your phone or need to walk along the street with your head craned high, so as not to miss it.
But as far as this place is concerned at the moment, location is the least of its problems. It's was past 7pm when friends and I entered and the place was totally empty, and it stayed so until we left a couple of hours later. The decor is lovely and modern and the smell of fresh paint still lingers, as the restaurant had only been open a couple of weeks.
What attracted us to J10 in the first place was the enticing Indian/European menu splashed all over the local newspaper. After a short discussion we decided to order starters off the Indian menu and main off the European. The head waiter (or was is perhaps the owner?) was completely hospitable, coming over to explain the menu and even offering to make dishes that weren't even on it. We decided to stick to what was on offer - mixed grill and tandoori wings as starters and salmon with ratatouille as main. The serving waitress was helpful and attentive and the complimentary poppadoms and dips were perfectly fine.
But the rest not so much. The grill was large for what we paid but it tasted of nothing but chillies. The chops and chicken looked and tasted suspiciously over a day old and the seekh kebabs were of the nasty variety which have more gram flour in them than meat. I didn't even venture over to the wings but was reliably told by my friends that they were just more of the same.
So while swigging Sprite (out of a can - not something you should see in such a nice looking establishment), I tried to clean out the spice to prepare for hopefully a less fiery main.
The salmon was marginally better, although you don't need to do a huge amount to this fish for it to taste good, except make sure it is fresh. The ratatouille it sat on was edible, although I felt it could have do with more seasoning, but perhaps the taste had been dulled by the starters? The topping of rocket was niether here nor there.
The sauce accompanying the fish did nothing for it and although I hate doing it, I saw myself reaching for the salt.
We all ate in a subdued manner, filling our stomachs rather than relishing our great looking dishes. Two of us managed to eat most of portions while the third gave up after a few mouthfuls.
We didn't bother with dessert and left shortly after paying a reasonable bill.
Nobody wants to leave a restaurant even partly hungry, but that was unfortunately the case that day. Perhaps J10 are having a few teething problems getting the balance of Indian and European dishes just right but I can't see any of us returning. Sorry guys, good service and the sole attention of the chef just isn't enough.
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