There aren’t many restaurants I’ve visited as often as the Bombay Cottage in Hamilton.
I’d estimate I’ve eaten here somewhere between 10 and 15 times over the years, and there’s a fairly simple reason for that – it’s always been one of my mum’s favourite places to go.
Whether it was her birthday, Mother’s Day or another family occasion, if she was choosing the restaurant, there was always a good chance we’d end up at the Bombay Cottage.
And when you’ve been somewhere that many times, I think you’re in a much better position to judge it than you are after one meal.
Bombay Cottage, Hamilton
The Bombay Cottage is located at 4 Lower Auchingramont Road in Hamilton and has been part of Hamilton’s restaurant scene for more than 30 years.
It’s a family-run Indian restaurant with a large menu covering everything from familiar curry-house favourites to tandoori dishes, biryanis, seafood and its own house specialities.
For me, though, I’ve developed a pretty predictable order over the years.
What I Normally Order
When it comes to starters, there are two that usually catch my attention.
The chicken chaat is one of my favourites, although I’m also a big fan of going for the chicken wings.
Then we get to the curry.
My personal favourite is the lamb Rogan Josh.
Rogan Josh is one of those dishes I’ll regularly use as a comparison when trying different Indian restaurants, and the Bombay Cottage version has been one I’ve gone back to repeatedly over the years.
My mum, meanwhile, has a completely different favourite.
If there’s one dish I associate with our family visits here, it’s the chicken Chasni.
That’s always been her go-to.
Chasni is a much milder option, with the Bombay Cottage describing theirs as a tangy sweet-and-sour dish made with fresh cream and lightly spiced ingredients. So if you’re someone who prefers a sweeter and creamier curry rather than something with a big kick, this could be worth considering.
What Has the Food Been Like?
This is where having visited so many times matters.
Across probably 10–15 visits, the food has almost always been excellent.
We did have one disappointing experience on our most recent visit where the food wasn’t up to the standard we’d experienced previously.
But I’m also a big believer in judging somewhere fairly.
If I’d visited for the first time that day, my review might have been very different. But after years of good meals here, I’m willing to put one poorer visit down to an off day rather than pretend the previous 10+ experiences didn’t happen.
Obviously, I’ll be interested to see how it compares when I return again.
More Than Just Another Restaurant Review
There’s a little bit of nostalgia attached to the Bombay Cottage for me.
I’ve reviewed hundreds of meals over the years, but certain restaurants become connected to particular people or occasions.
For our family, this is one of them.
When I think of the Bombay Cottage, I don’t just think about Rogan Josh or chicken chaat. I think about birthdays, Mother’s Days and meals out with my mum.
And that’s probably why I’ve ended up walking through the doors so many times.
The Ribz Verdict
Would I recommend the Bombay Cottage?
Based on my overall experience across the years, yes.
One disappointing visit doesn’t outweigh somewhere around 10–15 previous visits where we’ve continually enjoyed the food.
My personal order would be chicken chaat or wings to start, followed by the lamb Rogan Josh, while my mum would almost certainly tell you to order the chicken Chasni.
I’ll be back again at some point – and after the last visit, I’m particularly interested to see whether it goes straight back to the standard I’ve come to expect.
Bombay Cottage Hamilton – Information
Address: 4 Lower Auchingramont Road, Hamilton, ML3 6HW
Cuisine: Indian
My pick: Lamb Rogan Josh
Starter pick: Chicken Chaat / Chicken Wings
Mum’s pick: Chicken Chasni
Best for: Family meals, birthdays and occasions
Would I return? Yes
Menus, prices and opening hours can change, so check directly with the restaurant before visiting.
I’m building an interactive map of every food spot I’ve visited over the last few years. It will update with every post I make.
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