MASALA, 36 ST. JULIANS FRIARS, SHREWSBURY

Tucked away on St Julian's Friars is Masala. The restaurant on this site used to be the Koh-I-Nor, but it changed ownership and name in about November 2005. 

The restaurant is bigger inside than it looks from the outside, seating about 90 (and I believe there are plans for expansion). We went on a Monday night and there were only two other groups dining. There was soft music playing (not Indian) and the open plan dining room was well lit, with dark oak beams lending an old-fashioned ambience. Most of the activity was centered around the front of the building, where the restaurant's takeaway service was proving popular.

The menu was quite extensive, with some more unusual dishes as well as the staples. We started with poppadums with mint yoghurt, onion and coriander, mango chutney and lime pickle. This was followed by lamb sagwalla, chick pea sagwalla, plus sides of bombay potato and tarka daal. We were also given complimentary onion bhajis mid way through the meal which was a nice touch.

The food was excellent, and the portions quite big. The service was also good, with the food being served quickly and the waiters very friendly. The best asset the restaurant has, however, is its manager, John Mustafa. He is always front of house and is the friendliest person you could hope to meet. He used to run the Eastern Eye takeaway in the village of Bayston Hill on the edge of Shrewsbury, and such was his reputation that 50% of his trade now comes from the same village. In the takeaway he used to shake everyone by the hand as they left and happily he still does the same in his restaurant.

With thanks to Julian  of 'eat shrewsbury'