The much-awaited Bradford Curry Awards is back with its fourth edition on 10 July. More than 200 establishments competed for the coveted title to be the Best of the Best 2023, with around 30 making it to the finals, in nine categories, ranging from best restaurant, eatery, caterer and best marketing.
Each day, we hope to introduce you to a finalist, so you can find out more about their food and their journey as a finalist. Takdir, has been shortlisted in the eatery category, which aims to profile those establishments who offer simple wholesome food, no glitz. There are four other finalists in this category along with Takdir. Those competing with Takdir are Lahori Dhaba, Jinnah Saltaire, Sultan, Shimla Spice.
Takdir, (which means divine destiny or luck in Arabic and urdu), located at 31 Cheapside Road in Bradford was set up by Mahir Ali in 2020, during the pandemic.
“My motivation,” owner Mahir Ali says, “was to look after my mother, she is a pensioned widow. I wanted to create something local to my hometown, create jobs for others and at the same time sustain myself and my mother, so I started this restaurant in 2020, when Covid came”.
The site where the eatery stands, was also a curry restaurant, 30 years ago. That place, Mahir says was also called ‘Takdir’.
“I used to be a waiter at the place, there is a lot of attachment to the place.” Ali says.
“I have had a lot of experience, being a waiter, kitchen porter, chef and cook. I also worked for a bit in Greggs.
Takdir, is the only Bangladeshi curry house in Bradford, Mahir claims.
Takdir’s journey, Ali says, was not an easy one. It started at the height of pandemic.
The 50-year-old restauranteur says, “After Covid, I opened, and everybody in the industry was suffering. I was no different, but we managed well.
“I put my time and efforts in to the business, slowly hired staff in both full time and part time positions, gave them pick up and drop off services, and slowly moved forward, and here I am today.
“We slowly then opened an open kitchen, so you could see the food being cooked, and then we moved on to open a banquet hall.
“We have received good reviews from customers, which include a five-star review on google from customers.”
Mahir Ali, started his eatery, with a big menu, with an aim to accommodate everyone, both with a desi appetite and an English one.
“We started with everything, from tikka to kadhai to pizzas and burgers and even fish and chips,” he says.
“I managed to combine everything under one, due to my experience as a curry chef and working in management”.
“Some of my dishes are from Bangladesh, some from India, they are from all across South Asia, I have managed to combine all of them”.
Asked about his speciality dishes, Mahir says, “To everybody who comes in, I recommend basic curries, which are homestyle and classical. Karahi Jalfrezi, that’s a standard
“If you’re a curry person and you’re in Bradford. Try the shank, the lamb shank”.
“Salmon Jalfrezi,” the chef says, is another of his signature dishes
Speaking about his plans, “The plan is to simply carry on and provide good service and may be find a bigger place and expand in the future.”
Speaking on his nominations at the Bradford Curry Awards, he says, “It’s something to be appreciated. It shows that hard work is paying off”.
However, the proud finalist hasn’t finished yet, as at the age of 50, he is also pursuing a degree in Business and Tourism.
“Basically, after the degree, you can work in a company as well as manage your own business. Both combined, it has really opened my mind. It has given me a chance; I wasn’t really a business minded person.”
Let’s wait till 10 July, to know whether Takdir’s Takdir is in Mahir Ali’s favour or not. Watch this space to know the winners of Bradford Curry Awards.
