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Prince’s flavour of city’s nightlife
11:37am Thursday 7th February 2008
PRINCE WILLIAM stunned diners at a York curry house last night by turning up unannounced and ordering a house special.
The heir to the British throne called in at Saffron Desi, in Micklegate, at 7.30pm, along with 47 of his friends and colleagues.
Restaurant owner Mohammed Nisar was behind the bar when the Royal guest walked in. He said he had taken the group booking, but there had been no mention of a VIP in the group.
Mr Nisar said: "As soon as he walked in I met him and said Welcome to Saffron Desi'. I shook hands with him and asked what he would like to drink."
Mr Nisar said the prince, who is currently undertaking pilot training at RAF Linton-on-Ouse, asked for a cider and when given the choice between a bottle and draught he plumped for a bottle of Strongbow.
The restaurateur said: "I told the kitchen that Prince William was here. All the guests are special, but I couldn't believe we had a Royal here."
When it came to the main meal the prince, who was on a table with 20 others, was told about one of the restaurant's speciality dish - the aptly named Royal Delight.
Mr Nisar explained the restaurant's chef, Asad Malik, had previously cooked the dish - comprising chicken breast marinated in yoghurt, spices and a masala sauce and then cooked with ginger, onions and tomatoes among other ingredients - for Princess Diana at a function at London's Dorchester Hotel.
Prince William, who was sharing the dishes with three friends, opted for it and the party also shared a Saffron mixed starter, mango chicken, makhani special (mild, creamy chicken) and honey chicken.
Mr Nisar said the prince had specifically asked him which the milder curries were on the menu.
But it was the accompaniments which really blew the prince away.
When the prince was faced with one of the restaurant's trademark family-sized naan breads, Mr Nisar said the 25-year-old told him he would never forget it as it was so large.
He said: "We took it to the table and he started laughing."
Mr Nisar said other guests in the restaurant soon realised who they were dining with and some approached him for an autograph. The prince, who is believed to have been with a Royal protection officer, politely declined.
Gwen Turner, 25, of South Bank, York, was in the restaurant at the time with her boyfriend, Steve Brierley.
Miss Turner said: "We couldn't believe it when we realised it was him.
"The staff were so excited that they were telling everybody as they were coming into the restaurant."
Mr Nisar said the prince had been very polite and was dressed in jeans and a T-shirt.
He said: "He said it was an excellent meal, and excellent restaurant and excellent service and that he would be coming back. Myself and my chef and partner and all the staff are proud to have served him."
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Your Say YourPress
lj, york says...
9:21am Fri 8 Feb 08
No doubt there will be a big poster in the window now, Prince William ate here!
brummie-ian, south bank says...
9:14am Fri 8 Feb 08
bernard briggs wrote:guess he's more of a kebab man really.
good job it wasnt prince philip coz he would have said this crap tastes like its been cooked by an indian
bernard briggs, says...
11:04pm Thu 7 Feb 08
bernard briggs, says...
11:04pm Thu 7 Feb 08
bernard briggs, says...
11:04pm Thu 7 Feb 08
On the run, around town says...
8:20pm Thu 7 Feb 08
On the run, around town says...
8:19pm Thu 7 Feb 08
read-all-about-it, Haxby says...
8:12pm Thu 7 Feb 08
exYorkist wrote:......or even an exploding microwave perhaps?
Must have been an extremely slow news day in York. Were there no ill kittens or new species of weeds discovered? What about a bullied child or a family in a council house that's too small?
franky, York says...
8:05pm Thu 7 Feb 08
On the run wrote:I agree. Given the site invites comments on stories it seems some need to lighten up about their "craft".
the comments often were its a pity that people have gotten way too serious
On the run, around town says...
8:02pm Thu 7 Feb 08
On the run, around town says...
8:00pm Thu 7 Feb 08
On the run, around town says...
7:59pm Thu 7 Feb 08
franky, York says...
6:15pm Thu 7 Feb 08
franky wrote:Sorry, that should have said "lighten up" instead of listen up... ;-)
Press watcher wrote:Ah, listen up sir/madam!
Man eats curry - no story. Curry eats man - now that would be a story!
Oh, see what you mean. Future King walks unannounced into Micklegate curry house. Happens all the time, I suppose... Jeez, course it's a story
You've got to admit the comments on this one are far better than the "news story" that spawned them...
the Butler, Cowichan Bay B.C Canada says...
5:53pm Thu 7 Feb 08
franky, York says...
5:45pm Thu 7 Feb 08
Press watcher wrote:Ah, listen up sir/madam!
Man eats curry - no story. Curry eats man - now that would be a story!
Oh, see what you mean. Future King walks unannounced into Micklegate curry house. Happens all the time, I suppose... Jeez, course it's a story
You've got to admit the comments on this one are far better than the "news story" that spawned them...
linz01, Wigginton, York says...
3:58pm Thu 7 Feb 08
misskittie, York says...
3:53pm Thu 7 Feb 08
linz01, Wigginton, York says...
3:50pm Thu 7 Feb 08
He did not seem to have any bodyguards just a lot of male friends protecting him, also a friend dressed as a woman very stange indeed.
Well my friends and I were not convienced it was him so I decided to poke him in the back twice to get his attention and now I realise that it was him I feel a bit stupid poking the future king LOL. PS I really wanted him to fall in love with me so I could be Queen of England hee hee hee.
exYorkist, USA says...
2:54pm Thu 7 Feb 08
andyb, york says...
2:52pm Thu 7 Feb 08
Rust_Never_Sleeps, says...
2:51pm Thu 7 Feb 08
oli4uk wrote:Akbar's is crap!
Yep, I would class this as a story, although he shouldhaev gone to Akbars :P
On the run, around town says...
2:16pm Thu 7 Feb 08
On the run, splash palace says...
2:14pm Thu 7 Feb 08
shouldnt be a story
Mister Sheen, Right round the house says...
2:12pm Thu 7 Feb 08
notatourist wrote:Hargh hargh!
Looks like Wills misunderstood his grandad when he said he should go out and grab an Indian.
babycham, ye olde yorkshire says...
2:05pm Thu 7 Feb 08
notatourist, York says...
1:23pm Thu 7 Feb 08
gypsy lee, my caravan says...
1:17pm Thu 7 Feb 08
Axe Man Jack, York says...
1:11pm Thu 7 Feb 08
Peachy4, york says...
1:03pm Thu 7 Feb 08
Peter, york says...
12:55pm Thu 7 Feb 08
pickle wrote:Im not bothered full stop.
I have to agree with press watcher. I'm not a royalist but if the future king is in town it should be published as people are interested. If it had been any other member of the royal family I don't think people would be that bothered though!
pickle, york says...
12:46pm Thu 7 Feb 08
oli4uk, York says...
12:46pm Thu 7 Feb 08
Mark, York says...
12:43pm Thu 7 Feb 08
Press watcher, says...
12:35pm Thu 7 Feb 08
Oh, see what you mean. Future King walks unannounced into Micklegate curry house. Happens all the time, I suppose... Jeez, course it's a story
Mark, York says...
12:15pm Thu 7 Feb 08
sarahj, york says...
11:54am Thu 7 Feb 08
Have you had a chance encounter with a celebrity you would like to tell us about?
If you have then please email us now.
Though for a nano I was reading The SUN.
i am the stig, in my car says...
11:43am Thu 7 Feb 08
The prince, who is believed to have been with a Royal protection officer, politely declined.
It must be a royal pain in the backside not to be able to eat without being pestered!
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Saffron Desi in Micklegate, York
Saffron Desi owner Mohammed Nisar and chef Asad Malik display one of the family naan breads that Prince William thought were hilarious
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