The Perils Of Selling A Restaurant   In December we announced the fact that food writer and TV Presenter Mridula Baljekar had finally sold her award-winning restaurant in Windsor to take up other challenges. Since opening in 2001 Spice Route quickly gained recognition and was soon being quoted as one of the top Indian restaurants in the country with a unique menu in Mridula's own individual style. When it came to selling, the name and reputation of the restaurant was naturally a big factor in the price so, the name has remained exactly the same and, and here comes the problem, so has the menu. There is some argument as to whether the new owners are entitled to use the menu beyond the agreed period but the point is that, according to reports, the food is very different. This is not at all surprising as there is only one Mridula but imagine the plight of the poor unsuspecting customer. Ms Baljekar's reputation has rightly spread far and wide and so visitors understandably expect top class food and wine from a multi-award winning restaurant. Unfortunately the menu may be the same but the results are, apparently very different which would probably happen anywhere new kitchen staff tried to copy a high class individualistic menu. Imagine a standard chef moving into Heston Blumenthal's kitchen and trying to emulate his highly individual dishes without his input! The result is confusion. Ms Baljekar is upset on hearing less than flattering comments about the food with many customers not realising she is no longer involved - the new management are not exactly daft enough to advertise the fact ; customers feel they have been ripped off given the level of prices, which have remained the same and, by not changing the menu and relying on their own kitchen abilities, the new owners may have set in train a series of future troubles for themselves. Unfortunately buying or selling a restaurant is not just a question of receiving or handing over a cheque.