Jaswa

Now I don’t know about you but I associate Samosas as snack food and here I was needing something to tie me over for a few hours till I got home. Having just visited my local M&S and finding nothing to my taste or to my budget, I thought it would be worth seeing what Jaswa had to offer.
Looking at the menu in the window the range looks both wide and tempting from traditional to sweet at £1.85 a pop I knew one would not be enough and two, I might as well go for the three-for-£4.95 option which was now outside of my planned budget but what the hell, I’m happy to pay extra for the ‘new’ factor depending on the size.
When you go in, you sense this is a place designed to appeal to a cool set — you can hang out in the ‘WiFi free’ seating area or takeout as I did.
However when you look on the ‘baked’ Samosas they don’t look especially big which settled whether to go for the three Samosas deal.
I chose Mushroom Bhaji, ‘Superfood’ and Lamb that I got in a box with the names of the samosas hand-​written inside the cover.
I then got offered the choice of buying a dip which at 55p isn’t a lot but tips the price to over £5. Hmm why they can’t offer a free dip of your own choice?
On the train, looking at the size of them in relation to the box, the Samosas looked small however trying the Mushroom you quickly realise there are more to these Samosas than what meets the eye, still I can’t figure why they went for the shape they did as I’ll explain later.
As to the actual Samosas themselves; the pastry is fine, not stodgy and perhaps on this quiet bank holiday Monday slightly drier than what would normally be served (imagining they’ve been under the hot lights for some time) but as I said it was fine.
The contents: Well, the Mushroom Bhaji and Superfood were in my opinion too salty and the lamb nothing to write home about which leads me to the question what value there was in the meal.
For around £5 there are better deals around that offer a variety of tastes in one package e.g. burger, fries and a soft drink or sandwich, crisps and a drink you get the idea.
My personal opinion is they’d be better off offering ‘buy two for’ say £3.40 to compete against the Pasty and sandwich companies and price in the deals from there i.e. and a coffee or soft drink for £4.95 but the shape of the samosas don’t help.
I imagine they offer exactly the same amount as a normal looking samosa, perhaps more yet it looks less.
Perhaps they won’t and perhaps I’ve misunderstood the market for baked samosas in Reading. If I’m right and they don’t change, then I suggest you go visit this place before it’s gone. I will actually go again but only to try one of the sweet samosas.

A unique option that just opened this month. A better option compared to the fast food eateries on the high streets. Jaswa sells samosas, those treats I usually see as a starter on the Indian restaurant menu. Jaswa’s are baked, not fried, so there’s a whole lot less guilt involved.
I’ve usually only seen two varieties of samosas — vegetable and meat — and always fried. Jaswa has several other choices. I was actually a bit overwhelmed when I walked in, so I let them pick three savory ones for me as takeaway. When I got home, the box was still warm and smelled delicious.
I bit into the first one. Yummy. Savory and meaty, fully stuffed with bits of tender cooked lamb and lentils with light spices that made me want more. Okay, number two. Mushrooms. Also, very delicious and ready for number three. Salmon. Sadly, this one didn’t hit my own taste buds right. It was too… fishy. Not to blame Jaswa, I think this was all about me. Perhaps you’d like it?
I’ll absolutely be back. I’d like to try the sweet ones, especially the chocolate and the pistachio. Sounds great!