Sagor Indian Restaurant

Sagor Indian Restaurant

Church St
Barmouth
Gwynedd
LL42 1EW
Tel: 01341 281102

The Sagor is situated in the West Wales seaside resort of Barmouth, on the main street through the town. As with most businesses in such a place the trade appears to be very seasonal. We have not been able to get a table in August and have been the only persons in the restaurant in November.

The Sagor is not an ostentatious restaurant, the décor and facilities are fairly basic but the food is quite good. In the metaphorical desert of West Wales this is a little oasis for the Indian food lover. There is another Indian restaurant in Barmouth, The Indian Clipper, but then it is a very long way to the next nearest. Possibly in Machynlleth, about 30 miles away.

On the downside we were not impressed with being refused a table booking when we tried to eat there in August. It was just first in first served through the door. I can understand why, at least they maximise the traffic through the restaurant when it is busy, because they have to make up for the leaner months when Barmouth is empty.

On our last visit, whilst demolishing a plate of poppadoms and chutneys, we ordered starters of sheek kebab and onion bhajis. After a fair wait they arrived and were quite acceptable. For a main course we ordered chicken dhansak and a chicken dopiaza with pillau rice, vegetable pillau rice and nan breads. The portions were very reasonable and the quality good. The food arrived hot and had been freshly prepared. Considering we were the only people in the restaurant, service was probably a little on the slower side than expected, but at least the wait indicated that there was some individual preparation happening, and the quality of the food bore that out.

During the time we spent in the restaurant nobody else came in for a restaurant meal although they did do some takeaway trade. Because we were the only people in the restaurant it was inevitable that we got talking to the waiter, who apparently was from Oldham. There was no standing on ceremony and we ended up having a decent chat with him about Indian restaurants, Barmouth, Wales and other such things. Overall we enjoyed our meal and felt that this was a friendly if slightly quirky restaurant. We will definitely visit it again when in the area.

Verdict - the Sagor is a friendly restaurant that serves good food. There is not a lot of competition in that part of the world and it is a seasonal business so the restaurant deserves a mention for maintaining a decent level of quality of food even during its leaner months. Recommended