The only Indian restaurant in Riga, the capital, is Sue’s Indian Raja and, as far as the manager knows, it is the only one in Latvia (although there was another in Riga which closed down in February this year). Opened in October 2000 it is the second Indian restaurant owned by an Indian (Rajinder Chaudhary) who started a small chain of Asian restaurants in Vilnius, Lithuania in 1998. The restaurants are named after ‘Sue’, his first wife (she was Indian and Sue is short for her long Indian name). The other restaurants in the chain are the original Indian restaurant in Vilnius, two Thai restaurants - one in Tallinn and one in Riga - plus the newly opened all encompassing fast food restaurant in Parnu, Estonia, already mentioned.

The restaurant is up a small alleyway at number 3 Vecpilsetas but is well signposted. Interestingly it is said that Indian spices transported by camel about 200 years ago were stored in a warehouse at this address. Down some stairs there is a reception and bar, behind which the restaurant is in two rooms and seats about 30 in attractive looking surroundings. The chef is Indian, as is the manager who was very friendly and, unlike the other Indian restaurants visited, visibly works in the restaurant.

A wide ranging but fairly standard Indian menu but, like other Indian restaurants in the Baltic states, not cheap by local standards. For example, Onion Bhaji starters 2 Lats (about £2.25) while main courses were 6 or 7 Lats (£6.70 or £7.85) each. (Although not overly expensive by English standards, as an guideline to local prices outside the main city centre we ate at a small restaurant/bar in a suburb and which had probably not seen a tourist in years. Our meal of fried, breaded chicken fillets, fried potatoes with dill, a cabbage coleslaw and tomatoes came to 1 lat (£1.11p) each - and very good it was too with plenty of it. I just mention it to put prices into perspective!) However, a very pleasant looking restaurant although I am sorry to say we didn’t eat there so can’t comment on the food as we were busy eating in a small uncommercialised and tourist free suburb at about £1 per head!!

Malcolm Wilkins - July 2001