Birdy and Girdy made a long-overdue trip to Mustafa’s Dera on Dundee Street, and were absolutely wowed by the delicious food and atmosphere!
Recently, myself and Girdy paid a visit to Mustafa’s Dera on Dundee Street – a Scottish Pakistani restaurant we’d been invited to quite a while back, and had somehow never managed to make until now!
We were really glad the Fates managed to align for this trip, and I suspect it could even become my new favourite go-to in terms of curry delivery!
The vibe
When we walked into Mustafa’s Dera, we were struck by just how charming it is, how much there is to see, and the fact there are even games on the tables! The ones we spotted were chess and Ludo – the Ludo seemed like a good choice, as Girdy hasn’t quite mastered chess yet.
It’s a really lovely, relaxed atmosphere at Mustafa’s, and the chairs are comfier than they look. Myself and Girdy sat down and began to play Ludo, helped by Googling the rules. It took us a very long time to roll a six to get started, but once we did it was quite an exciting game – which Girdy won.
The food and drink
This is the real big seller for me – the menu at Mustafa’s Dera! Unbelievable variety! More delicious-sounding dishes than I could get my head around.
In the end, I opted for the chef’s special butter chicken, which comes with rice – I was very happy with my choice, and it’s certainly up there with some of the better butter chickens I’ve tried in my time.
And because I’m me, I also wanted some naan, which I asked Girdy if he’d share with me – thankfully, he said yes, because what was presented to us was the more gorgeous and soft garlic and coriander naan I’ve ever eaten. AMAZING. I washed it down with a very tasty mocktail!
As for Girdy, he ordered a chicken masaledar, which he happily devoured. Here’s what he had to say about it:
Despite me being extremely uneducated on what a ‘masaledar’ curry is, it was very good and I’d have it again. To my simple taste, it was a lovely spiced chicken curry. I appreciated how tender the chicken was and really liked how it was served in a metal pot-dish with its own lid. There’s so much on the Dera’s menu, despite how much I liked this, it feels like a shame to have the same thing twice without exploring the menu a bit first.
And despite us having one incredible naan between us, the generous portions of rice meant that we actually couldn’t finish it all – I was absolutely stuffed! The words ‘great value for money’ really ring true here.
The service
The service at Mustafa’s Dera was fab, helpful, and very relaxed. We were under no pressure to report back on the food, and we just sat and had a chilled time talking business and pleasure until it was time to ask for the bill.
When we were just leaving, we also met the owner who’d just come in, and got to have a lovely chat, and learn a bit about the background of Mustafa’s Dera.
We were made to feel very welcome, and it was greatly appreciated.
Things to do near Mustafa’s Dera in Fountainpark
Mustafa’s Dera is just across the road from Fountainpark, in the Fountainbridge area of the city.
At Fountainpark, there’s a Cineworld, along with the arcade Funstation, the shooting Laser Station, crazy golf at Volcano Falls, and bowling at Tenpin.
Need some fresh air? there’s the Union Canal where you can go for a perfectly pleasant walk, or even hire a boat!
Overall
Myself and Girdy really enjoyed our visit to Mustafa’s Dera, so much so we wished we hadn’t waited so long to get here!
The curries were amazing, although the real standout for me was probably the best garlic and coriander naan bread I’ve ever eaten.
We’ll certainly be back, and in the meantime, I’ll probably be ordering from them via the likes of Just Eat!
Mustafa’s Dera
Summary
Mustafa’s Dera is a Scottish Pakistani restaurant on Dundee Street, offering a wide menu of delicious food, with helpful staff and charming surroundings. Highly recommend!
What do you think? Let us know in the comments below!
Class vibe, quality food