Eighteen CURRYBONDs in and we've been to Tooting Broadway, we've been to Tooting Bec, we've been to Tooting Graveney now we must venture south, further south than we've ever been before. Crossing the railway at the bottom of Tooting High Street, leaving the warmth of Wandsworth and its cheapest-in-the-country council tax housing into the unforgiving borough of Merton, home to Colliers Wood and our next venue, Spice of Raj.

We're greeted with a warm welcome, a cosy atmosphere and tablecloths! It's very much your slightly dated but feels like home type of curry place.

Venue Score - 7.3/10.

The menu is significant, with pretty much every curry house staple on offer, Bhuna, Madras, Dopiaza, Jalfrezi, Phaal. There are also a number of interesting looking specials. We get the popadoms in quick smart and get the always pleasing rotary pots of chutney. With a quorum of CURRYBONDers we get the orders in with Lamb Tikka, Prawn Puuri and thankfully, Onion Bhajis. The Lamb is lovely, well Tikka'ed and tender, unfortunately the same can't be said for the bhajis which come in a little dry. Bhaji score - 4/10.

The mains arrive in good time with a selection of Chicken Tikka Jalfrezi, a special Nawabi Chicken, Chana Masala, Chicken and Vegetable Balti and another reference Chicken Tikka Masala accompanied by garlic naans, egg parotha and a pilau rice. On arrival, things look good. The curry is vibrant and not just a study of brown. The CTM, is a hot pink but on shovelling into the curry cave on my face it was a mild experience, much more akin to a korma. The Chicken Balti was enormous and very tasty. My fellow CURRYBONDers however were less enthusiastic. The Jalfrezi was seeringly spicy with chilli-a-plenty and the special chicken dish got a middling reception.

Food Score - 6.8/10.

The curry remains left on the table are significant, portion size is certainly not a problem. Alcohol was on the menu and so empty Cobra bottles adorn the table top. The bill arrives at £87.70 which is a hefty £21.93/CURRYBONDer, the first time we break the £20 barrier. So not the cheapest of curry houses accounted for in its value score.

Value Score - 5.3/10.

Our adventure out of Tooting to the depths of Merton was therefore pretty successful. A cosy curry house with all the choice you could want from the curry classics, but if you want a bargain, head up the road to Tooting, the true home of curry.

Overall Score - 6.9/10.