The Ashoka

This restaurant has ceased trading.

The Ashoka

108 Elderslie Street, Glasgow, G3 7AR

Telephone 0141 221 1761
Food served Mon–Sun noon–midnight
Pre-theatre times Sun–Fri 3–7pm

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Eating & Drinking Guide

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This review is taken from the 2009 edition.

A Glasgow fixture since 1982, this Ashoka is not part of the popular Harlequin-owned chain of the same name. Downstairs is the 110-capacity Curryoke restaurant, where you can experience a full banquet plus a spot of singing, while upstairs the father-and-son owners have created a cosier space, recently separated from the karaoke venue. It's busy with young couples and businessmen, perhaps drawn to the massive selection of malts or the ambitious wine list. The décor is eccentric – safari-inspired chairs alongside Scottish and a splash of Persian – and so is the food. Father Siroos has introduced an oven-baked theme to the majority of the main dishes, baking each one in an open ceramic dish rather than the usual stove-top pan. A Lamb Dampokhet, recommended as a Persian speciality, offers workaday meat in a dark, viscous sauce topped with an egg and a round of bread. It's an interesting concept, as is the Neshilli chicken Garlic with cognac and oven-roasted King Prawns, but the unique method means each dish ends up overdone and tasting vaguely similar. Starters come out better, with a rich, chunky dhal topping puffy bread, and a stuffed pepper adding some welcome greenery. Desserts are well presented – but this place suffers from its main menu.

Number of wines sold by the glass: 5
Delivery: £1
Private dining: 50/110
Provides: Vegetarian options (at least ¼ main courses), Children's portions, Children's high chairs, Pre-theatre menu
Music on stereo: Classic Hindi
Capacity: 50
Largest group: 140 using downstairs
Open since: 1982
House wine: £12.95, £13.95 per bottle
BYOB: £2 corkage

Comments & ratings

13. kaza76 – 10 Aug 2012, 9:26am Report: I bought 2 x a groupon deal a few months back for a team building works night out, the expiry date on the voucher stated to be used before Nov 2012. we had not arranged anything to date as we were having difficulties arranging a date that suited everyone. I am now hearing that this has closed down! Does anyone know if there is anyway I can be refunded for this? I know my chances are slim but I had paid up front for these vouchers and I am now £65 down.

12. Sowhat72 – 5 Aug 2012, 5:44pm Report

Bought a deal from KGB Deals, Dinner at the Ashoka for four.

Wish I had checked the Restaurant out first!!!

When my guests and I arrived it had SHUT DOWN, probably by Health and Safety!!!BY the sounds of the reviews my guests and I had a lucky escape!!

11. Lifebeganat41 – 29 Jun 2012, 6:24am The Ashoka Report: Historically (circa 20 years ago) I dined in this restaurant fairly regularly. At that time it was quite upmarket, the exterior was aesthetically pleasing, and the interior too. The food was particularly good, thus why I enjoyed eating there. Imagine my dismay when I returned recently, to find it really dingy looking, both outside and in...not appealing at all.
The food was 'ok'...nothing to write home about, and I certainly wouldn't 'recommend' it to AN Other. Thank goodness it was a voucher 'deal', so was cheap. I would've given 2 stars, had it not been for the fact that both the alcohol and soft drinks were at 'rip off' prices...£3.25 for a spirit; £3.50 for a small glass of wine (poured from a bottle which costs £3.50 from Costco); and £2.50 for a small draft cola....so, only gave 1...!
Exterior - nil stars; Interior - nil stars; ambiance - nil stars; food - 2 stars; drink - minus one star.
I shall not be returning, and do not recommend it to anyone else...

10. Broon 1961 – 17 Jun 2012, 9:57am Report: Went to Ashoka with a group of colleagues after purchasing a groupon deal. The place stank of dampness. The decor is tired and not the cleanest place. The food was mediocre as was the service. The drinks were expensive but worst of all they were almost taste free as they were watered down. The waiter constantly tried to overcharge us and at one point actually told us he had undercharged us. we paid £10.30 for two drinks! When I questioned him he changed his mind and said he had given us £5 more in our change! Overall it was one of the worst nights out I've had! The palm reader charged £3 and was hysterical! The only good thing about the night was the company we were in. Don't waste your time going here its the worst place I have ever been!!!

9. mrdavid – 27 Apr 2012, 6:23pm The Ashoka Report: CRAP CRAP and more CRAP. I also got a groupon voucher for the 5 course buffet night but they said they were always fully booked? But they offered that I could come to the karaoke party night and it was just appalling. squashed up seating arrangements with other groups, they are very attentive at offerring more drinks but thats where they try and make their money as the drinks are so overpriced. The decor was dirty and slummy. It was clear there was going to be a big delay between courses, and after the tasteless starter we got up and left and we wished we never even sat down. Go here at your peril......

8. Couple – 14 Mar 2012, 10:17pm Report: Just got back from the so-called "restaurant" Ashoka on argyle street and had to register here write a review. This is how big of impact the visit has made on us! We originally planned to go to Mother India's on the same road but it was too full so we decided to go to Ashoka's!!!! The worst decision ever! The starter was nice (Naan bread, not much can go wrong with that)... for the main course, we had ordered two different curry dishes but both with lamb and 2 portions of rice...
Well... The main courses arrived: with 1 portion of rice and instead of the lamb we received BEEF!!!! 1st of all, there is no beef on the menu, 2nd of all, i think even a child can tell the difference between lamb and beef... But that's not all, when the waiter brought the main courses he didnt mention it was lamb masala or chasni, he just said: Chasni and masala... Nobody has come up to check if it was ok (when we had been asked if the naan bread was ok) .... So, when finally the waiter asked after noticing we were unhappy: Are your currys ok? (clearly knowing it was beef) we said yeah, but this is beef and he had the balls to swear and gurantee that it was 100% lamb as their supplier does not supply beef!!! then he had the balls to charge us for the 2nd portion of rice we didn't receive!!! Seriously! Awful!!!! Do not go there at any costs!
Someone should sue them!!!!

7. dod – 2 Mar 2012, 8:24pm Report: The service is rubbish waited over half an hour to get starters, when it arrived it looked like it had come out of the bin and had looked at a heat source, environmentel health would have a field day in here do not touch this place with a barge pole

6. ShazM – 1 Mar 2012, 9:48am The Ashoka Report

OMG i wish i had read the reviews before buying a takeaway groupon.

This was the most disgusting curry i have ever had.

I would certaily not recommend it, it has changed hands and not the harlequinn group.

I had eat here for years and expected quality what i got was what i could have got from my local takeaway and it would have cost me less than the groupon offer.

5. Jodie – 21 Feb 2012, 2:16pm The Ashoka Report: Unclean, poor meals and poor service. Walked out without finishing the meal after complaints fell on deaf ears. However staff still expected us to pay full price.

4. jobby – 18 Feb 2012, 8:20am Report: SHAMBLES, bought deal from groupon arrived at the ashoka at 1955 only to be directed to a basement were the party nights were held. When we got there the so called restaurant was overcrowed gentleman showed us to our seats which was 5 chairs squashed at the end of a long table but there was 8 of us they ended up having to move a party of 5 people to another table to accomodate us which was very embarrassing for us. Eventually sat down which we were all squashed together and very uncomfortable. Got our starters and waited and waited for our main course only to be told they dont start serving the main course until 2145 so between starter and main course we would have to have waited 1hr 30 mins which is totally unacceptable the ploy here was so you could keep you there drinking there over priced watered down drinks. We decided to leave and speak to the manager. Well the manager was so rude and wasnt willing to listen to our complaint brushed us off spoke to us like a piece of dirt if we were in the wrong. Glad to say we werent the only customers to leave before the main course was served. Never ever go near this restaurant over priced water down drinks and a fire hazard as they let far to many people in and as for the management he was just greedy for your money. P.S THE TABLE CLOTHES WERE MOULDY TOO AND TABLES WERE WALL PAPER PASTING TABLES STINKS OF DAMPNESS.

3. aabb – 18 Feb 2012, 12:28am The Ashoka Report: TERRIBLE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!Avoid this place at all costs as they are only interested in making money at your expense!!!!!!!!!!
squashed into seats like sardines. complained , only to be told that 'they are only doing what the management told them to do'. dingy atmosphere and decor. felt like a fire hazzard when seated!!!!!!! got moved to acommodate others who complained harder about the squash!!!! everybody was leaving after the shabby starters. waiters trying to rip you off!!!!!!!!!!!! obviously expecting/hoping everybody would be too drunk to notice them giving you change from £10 instead of the £20 you had given them. No questions were asked when they were challenged about this so they were obviously out to Rip us off big style!!!!!

2. loopylou – 10 Jan 2012, 12:03pm The Ashoka Report: Fantastic night out! Went with girls from work on a thursday evening and got what you would expect on a saturday night out! Food was amazing, lots of choice in buffet room, dj was really good, drinks are fairly priced, service was great and all in all I will definatley be going back for another night out.

1. James1963 – 25 Oct 2011, 9:44am Report: Excellent all round Brilliant indian restaurant, great food freshest i have tasted in a long time. the ambience was so homely that we could have sat all night, to be honest i think we sat most of the night. We were never rushed once, The service was faultless the staff always seemed happy.i would recommend this place as one of the best restaurants in glasgow that you must visit.

Average rating 2/5 from 6 reviews of The Ashoka.

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