The frontage of thickly-curtained windows, slightly faded painted name board and a canopy which had seen better days gave the appearance of a restaurant which had been quite plush when it opened (which, I was told, was 11 years ago) but now settled into a well established, homey sort of place. Inside, the red decor, red tablecloths embroidered with the name of the restaurant in the centre and painted Indian scenes on the walls endorsed this assessment. It seats 44 in the main dining area plus three or four large tables in a small extension room at the rear.

I had enquired earlier in the day whether booking was necessary. Told is was, as it was a Saturday night, I booked a table but on arrival at 9pm only two other tables were taken. More arrived during the evening but at no time could it be described as crowded. It was winter however, and no doubt things change during the summer months.

A plate of Bombay Mix was placed on the table while we studied the menu, which contained most of the standard dishes plus some interesting variations amongst the Chef’s Specials. Starters of Onion Bhaji (3 round bhajias well cooked with plenty of onion and nicely spiced) and Chicken Chat (small pieces of chicken in a dark, tangy spicy sauce unusually served on a crisp puri) were good. My wife chose Garlic Murug as her main dish, which was chicken cooked in a thick light coloured garlic and onion sauce of medium hotness, well balanced between imparting the garlic flavour without it being overpowering. I chose Chicken Lonkapiaza, which was very tasty in a rich dark and fairly hotly spiced sauce. Not unlike Jalfrezi but without the green chillies. Vegetable Bhaji very good with a good selection of vegetables nicely cooked and tastily spiced. The Peshwari Nan had a reasonable filling of fruit while the Pillau Rice was standard stuff.

Prices about average, portions adequate (not huge but sufficient) and the service was friendly and efficient. Indeed, as a pointer to this my wife found a small piece of plastic (it looked like part of a food packet) in her salad which accompanied the Onion Bhaji and which she placed on the side of her plate. She didn’t mention it, but the waiter noticed it when clearing the plates. He was extremely apologetic and when the bill arrived he refused to charge for the bhajias despite our reassuring him that we weren’t complaining and didn’t expect any reduction. Also, the head waiter was very friendly, asking where we came from etc., and at the end he gave us a free drink "as new customers". A nice touch (although why my wife got a glass of Baileys while mine was a glass of non alcoholic passion fruit juice I can’t imagine, but it would have been churlish to comment!)

All in all a good meal served in pleasant, comfortable surroundings by friendly people and I’m glad I chose this restaurant rather than the other one in town.

Malcolm Wilkins - February 1999