Only a glass door entrance to be seen from the front but a wide staircase leads to a huge and most impressive first floor restaurant. Seating around 120 in what used to be a meeting and exhibition hall (and at one time a Methodist Chapel!) but could equally have been a Georgian ballroom or banqueting hall. The pink and blue colours and soft lighting gave it a restful atmosphere. A large bar dominates one wall while opposite there are several comfortable leather arm chairs and loungers around a large fireplace adorned with sitars and other Eastern instruments. The high ornate ceiling has three glass domes which, together with plenty of room between tables gives a very spacious feel. The table cloths and cutlery are top quality and even the hot towels afterwards were like rolls of carpet! The walls are adorned with swag and tail curtaining, etched pictures and sculpted plaques with a couple of statues thrown in, and the whole atmosphere is one of palatial elegance.

The menu is very extensive and interesting. Along with most of the favourites there are a number of dishes not found in the average Indian restaurant which makes ordering a difficult choice. My starter of Stuffed Pepper (whole green pepper stuffed with spicy diced chicken and barbecued) was pleasingly blackened on the outside and the delicately spiced (although not chilli hot as the menu suggests) stuffing provided an interesting but filling starter. The Onion Bhajias (2 round bhajias) were the best we have tasted for a while - light, crisp and spicy with the minimum of gram flour. The Prawn Puri was also excellent containing large succulent prawns rather than the more common smaller variety in a tangy sauce on a puri. All starters had an excellent, fresh and varied salad garnish.

Main dishes were also superb. The Chicken Tikka Masala was probably the most ordinary of the lot being a fairly standard example although tastier than most. The Chicken Mon Pasand was similar in that it was a reasonably mild dish in a yoghurt based sauce but it had a very herby flavour which gives an interesting variation for those who like CTM or similar dishes. My Lamb Jalafrajy (sic) was large tender chunks of lamb in a thick dark sauce. It did not contain the expected chillies but the first taste had a spicy chilli flavour although it was not an immediate assault on the tongue. However, the hotness hit you after a couple of mouthfuls and there was no doubt about the chilli content. It proved to be an excellent choice. Vegetable Bhaji side dish contained a good variety of finely diced vegetables and, although I prefer larger vegetable pieces, it was excellently flavoured and very enjoyable. The accompanying Peshwari Nan and Pillau Rice were both good with the former not being overloaded with creamed coconut and therefore less sickly than many, while the latter contained a smattering of diced vegetable to make it interesting.

Prices above average as one would expect but for the decor and type of restaurant I though it was very reasonable. 10% service charge is added to the bill (again as one might expect at this type of restaurant) but the service was very good - efficient, friendly and courteous - and the portions generous.

A first class meal in an elegant Indian restaurant and one worth visiting for both the place it is as well as the quality of the food. If I lived in Bath I probably wouldn’t bother to look elsewhere.

Malcolm Wilkins - May 2000