Fairly busy service on this 321neo - haven't flown on one for a while and forgot how quiet it is up front. 9 rows of club with maybe 4 free seats throughout, looked quite busy down the back but not 100% full.

Excellent crew led by an IFL with a beaming smile any time any pax was in view. He ran the service really well and it was a good service flow which was a combination of hand running the front half of club with trolley service from about row 4 on, presume it meant most people got served reasonably quickly.

Drinks served approx 30min after takeoff (we were in row 1) which might feel a bit slow for some, though on a 4h 30m flight there was plenty of time to make up for it. Were offered a top-up before the meal as well as with the meal, and quite frequently after.

I've been struck by a head cold so didn't drink much but enjoyed an Aviation & Tonic and a glass of white with the meal, then stuck to water and peppermint tea.

Pax across the aisle got three drinks in the first round and proceeded to chain-drink savvy-B & champagne the whole flight, to the point where it looked like he was going to vomit (clutching a sick bag during turbulence), missed the glass on a re-pour a few hours in and having so much on the centre tray table when we did hit some rough air a few glasses shattered in the aisle. I really shouldn't judge but I can't help but observe others sometimes...

Anyway the food; choice was between a "Ruby Chicken Curry", a Rigatoni with Pumpkin Sauce and hot smoked salmon (which I'm guessing is the same as was served on Karfa's JER flight: https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/36012612-post371.html as well as ABJ92's CDG: https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/36009307-post363.html). A bit surprising a band 1 meal would be served on a band 4 but I guess some people want a lighter option.

The starter salad thing was very tasty - I love wakame and edamame so big ticks there from me.

The curry smelled great so we both went for that, though on seeing someone's rigatoni I wish I got the pasta, it looked really well presented. It was the same dish shared by GDOCA above: https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/36013379-post372.html

The curry was alright - would be nice if it had some more vegetables in it. There was a bit more to the curry than appears (it looks about 80% rice here).

Also am I the only person who wishes they'd tone down the chutney with the cheese bowl? These days it feels there's about as much chutney/relish by weight as there is cheese, I prefer my cheese unadulterated!

Overall a really good CE flight, managed a nap after dinner and we arrived only 10min late to a very empty airport. We were in bed ~65 minutes after arriving at the gate.