They have a ‘free pint with a curry’ deal
When most folks picture a Greene King pub, they probably think of beers on tap, football playing on the TV, and simple pub grub that doesn’t cost much. The Brook in Cambridge ticks all those boxes, but there’s something about it that really stands out.
Behind what looks like your typical pub setup is a chef whipping up genuine Indian dishes. It was actually those meals that drew me to this part of Mill Road I don’t usually explore. As someone who covers affordable and tasty food for Cam Bites, I’m pretty familiar with Mill Road’s foodie spots.
But normally I stick closer to Parker’s Piece end. I’d never made it over to Brooks Road where The Brook is located until now.
On a cold January lunchtime, walking there left me feeling chilly and hungry. So seeing the well-known Greene King sign hanging from the side of the slate-grey building felt like a relief. When I showed up around 12:50 pm on Wednesday, The Brook was pretty quiet – just one friendly woman behind the bar and another person eating.
The Brook, next to Brooks Road in Cambridge(Image: Cambridgeshire Live)
The tables had polished wood tops decorated with tiny glass vases holding sweet little flowers alongside the usual Heinz sauces. Of course, those sachets of mayo and ketchup weren’t meant for the Indian food.
Their menu also has some classic pub staples like fish and chips plus three burger choices. These burgers come with an offer for a free pint between noon and 6 pm on weekdays – same goes for their curries.
That offer definitely tempted me. But since I’m doing ‘dry January’ this year, I went for a mango lassi priced at £4.50 instead.
I picked a paneer biryani costing £10.99 while keeping my budget in mind. There were cheaper curries too like tadka dal at £8.25 or butter chicken masala at £9.50.
Since sides start at around £3 each – rice or naan breads – choosing biryani meant no need for extra carbs as it’s already rice-based.
My meal looked really nice – especially that mango lassi sprinkled with crushed pistachios and dried rose petals on top. It was smooth and rich with lovely mango flavour that reminded me of my favourite childhood ice cream: Solero.
The soft paneer pieces contrasted well with crunchy bits scattered over the rice – which seemed like crispy onions to me. The lime wedge added sharp juice cutting through the heat from chillis while creamy yoghurt and lassi cooled things down nicely on the side.
All those spice hits plus different textures kept each bite interesting – which mattered because my portion was massive. If you want good Indian food paired with a pint without breaking the bank, definitely check out The Brook sometime soon.
