CURRY waiters branded "miserable gits" by their industry's own magazine said today they were having "naan" of it.

York curry houses were falling over themselves to prove their service comes with a big smile after an article in Tandoori Magazine said dining in an Indian restaurant was more akin to attending a funeral.

In an editorial, the magazine, which is mailed to 8,000 curry houses in Britain, said: "Walk into an Indian restaurant, no matter how posh, and more likely than not you will be 'greeted' by a miserable git. It's as if his day's been ruined by your arrival."

But the article did not curry favour with restaurateurs in York.

Shamim Alom, owner of the Garden of India, Fawcett Street, said: "We enjoy what we do - the working, the serving - what is there to be miserable about?

"We have been in business for six years and are pretty busy. If we were miserable gits, I think we would have closed down a long time ago."

He admitted there were times when customers could be difficult, especially at night when the pubs had closed, but said: "We serve them and if they get out of hand, we ask them to leave. But there are no sad faces."

Iqbal Chowdhury, owner of the Bengal Brasserie in Goodramgate and a judge of the forthcoming Bangladeshi British Curry Award 1998, said Tandoori Magazine did have a point, but was making a generalisation.

He said: "A few waiters are like that but they are not doing it on purpose, they are just being absent-minded. It is because many have not had proper training, but the industry is rapidly changing. Most waiters now realise they have to be welcoming and polite, and most are."

The Sheriff of York, Eurig Thomas, a fan of hot curries, said: "I have never found a miserable git in York. The waiters are warm, accommodating, knowledgeable and co-operative. I am very surprised that they are slandering waiters in this way."

Martin Lacy, food and drink editor of the Evening Press, said: "I can only think that the author had not visited York. Without exception, the waiters in the Indian restaurants I have eaten in have been friendly and polite, and smiling faces are always in abundance."

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