Excellent all round really, there honestly wasn't anything to fault about the place and I was…read morereally impressed. Booked a table for 5 people on a Thursday evening, I was surprised how busy it actually was. We sat in the waiting area whilst everyone turned up and then were shown to out pre-prepared table and served drinks. Staff were polite and were soon taking our order. I went for poppadum, a chicken tikka starter and chicken tikka biryani for main, followed by a coffee. The food was delicious, probably the best tasting food of any Indian restaurant I've been to and everyone was of the same opinion. 5 different people, 5 different dishes, 5 different opinions, 5 overall very happy customers. After the meal we were served with hot wipes and then provided with the bill. The only negative I can possibly think of is that unlike some other Indian restaurants, we weren't offered a complementary 'shot' at the end, but that's being very picky.

If you're looking for a decent curry in the Bury area then look no further - Jewel in the Crown is…read morewhere you need to go. Delicious food, excellent service, and great value for money - suitable for large groups or casual/intimate dining. You are usually greeted with numerous smiling faces as you walk into the bar / waiting area which instantly makes you feel welcome - something that is often missing in restaurants these days. Unfortunately, if you do have to wait for a table (quite likely) the seating area is tiny, so I would suggest booking in advance, especially on the weekends as it's usually jam packed! Located in the town centre, the restaurant is just a 5 minute walk from Bury Interchange, or a 2 minute taxi if it's raining (again, quite likely!), so now you know where it is get booking a table!

Northern England is home to some of the best South Asian food anywhere in the world, including the…read moreIndian subcontinent itself. Manchester is home to the iconic Curry Mile. In these competitive environs, Akbar's holds its own with its gigantic naans and its flavorful curries. The offal-based offerings, such as maghaz (sheep's brain) masala and chicken liver tikka, are my personal favorites. The maghaz has a creamy, buttery texture and loads of flavor. The perfectly chewy naan is a great accompaniment to both dishes. A steaming cup of the sweet and salty Kashmiri chai is a perfect way to finish a meal on a cold Manchester winter evening (I usually find myself in Northern England around Christmastime).

This is a fantastic place and I wish I'd known about it earlier! However, there are a couple of…read morecatches one needs to know about! For example, bookings in small numbers are not allowed, so if your party is less than 10 you would have to wait in the lounge. Moreover, you wouldn't be put in the queue for tables until all the people from your party have arrived! Once they have, you are given a device which will start flashing once your table is ready. For us it took just about 30 minutes (on a Thursday evening), so make sure you have no other plans this evening or come earlier. The place was full, we load to squeeze behind other guests backs - shows how popular the place is. Our waiter was very friendly and made us feel welcome immediately. Despite the venue being packed, food arrived quickly, and it was just delicious - couldn't find any faults! For those who feel adventurous, there are chef's challenges with spicy food (I heard you get s free dessert if you finish it- however , can't vouch for this). I have tried a tiny piece of this challenge from my friends plate, and almost cried from the amount of hot spices! Despite the wait, very enjoyable experience, and prices are more than friendly, which is very unusual for the city centre.

We went to ITR on Tuesday and it was very busy. Its a small restaurant with just 40 covers but…read moreevery space was taken. We had to wait about 10 minutes before our table was ready. If you are going, I highly recommend you book a table in advance. The waiter explained how the menu "worked". He explained that many of the dishes are kind of like tapas. What I went for was the Dahi Puri which was under the Street Food section. I then went for the Idly Vada from the Tiffin menu. Both of these were pretty small dishes. Under the Tiffin menu, I think if you choose something like the dosa it would be much more filling. The dahi puri was really tasty. You put each pastry straight into your mouth and its a mouth full of flavours! Yum. The next dish was the Idly Vada which was most unusual. Menu says its a mix between doughnuts and dumplings. It was kind of like a loose cake texture. It came with various sauces which it needed. It was more like a carrier of flavours. If you see my photos, you will see what looks more like a doughnut ring. I think this is like the 2 white ones but basically deep-fried. To be honest, I kind of wish I went for something else. The Idly Vada was not bad, just not really to my taste. The "main" I had was the ITR Lamb. Really tasty lamb curry. It came on a circular tray with the rice and a tiny amount of salad. With the lack of space, the circular trays didn't really help - but that would't be an issue normally. The salad was unusual as there was such as small amount. Either don't have a salad or put more on. One thing I noticed was that no poppadoms on the menu - so no poppadoms and then usual chutney tray you get when you go for an Indian meal. Maybe its something you don't get in South Indian food?? (If you looking for the place on Google Maps, the restaurant is where the NatWest bank used to be. Its address is 2 Chapel Street).

ITR is a very small place, far too small to cater for the throngs of folks who want to eat here. So…read moremy advice is to book well in advance to avoid disappointment. We ate on a Tuesday night and it was always at full capacity. If they moved to larger premises, I think they'd risk losing the unique dining experience, which feels like an ever-so-slightly cramped and bustling 'classy canteen', with its simple wooden furniture, bamboo ceiling and metal tableware. The menus (used as paper tablecloths) are well presented - the street food grazing options for starters are split between 'veg warm', 'veg cool' and 'non-veg warm'. There are grilled kebabs, 'Tiffin meets ITR' dishes, Indo-Chinese options and main courses ('Tiffin') so you're really spoilt for choice. The vegetarian Grazing Platter was light, flavoursome and gorgeous. For the main course it was Butter Chicken with roti bread. Again, it exceeded expectations, I had to have extra roti to wipe up every last drop of that sauce. It was out of this world. I didn't have any food envy of my group's dishes for a change. Instead of feeling uncomfortably full as is usual with standard curry houses, after this meal I felt completely satisfied and as happy as Pharrell Williams. Including a serving of a creamy Lassi to drink, my meal came to less than £20. A lively setting, stunning food, friendly service and reasonable prices. If only it was possible to give a six star rating. Cheadle, I'm insanely jealous of you.

Yeah, spent the holidays with English friends in Manchester, UK…read more As is the English norm, we had to go out for a curry the day after Christmas (Boxing Day) The place was packed when we walked in. Luckily we (13 people) reserved ahead of time. Decor was typical, neat and tidy. They took out drink orders as soon as we sat down. Quick and efficient just the way service should be - everywhere. I ordered the lamb curry (hot version) not vindaloo. It was excellent. Entrees come with rice but the portions could have been a bit larger to soak up all the sauce. I then realized the nan bread worked better in dealing with the sauce. The nan bread I ordered had coconut in it. Delicious. Although having Indian a handful of times, I realized I should have it more often. Two thumbs up definitely.

This is quite possibly one of the best Balti Houses I have been too, so much so that this was the…read moreplace of choice to spend the night before my wedding with my family. The interior is warm and inviting, the layout is nice, you don't feel crowded or packed in and the seating is comfortable. You just feel at ease and relaxed, it's quite an intimate setting. The service is formidable, they're friendly, polite, attentive, they're always there when you need them without 'stalking' your table. Nothing at all is too much trouble for them and they always look genuinely pleased to help you. It makes for a very enjoyable eating experience. The menu is fantastic and if there's anything you want that isn't on there all you have to do is ask. The actual food is delicious, seriously, cooked to perfection. Just when you think it can't get any better, your bill arrives and guess what? It doesn't break the bank! I really can't fault this place.

If you know your way around Liverpool's Duke St area, then perhaps you'll be aware of the choice of…read morecuisine for those looking to dine out. Another to make it onto the block and with great success is Mayur restaurant, which serves Indian dishes with a touch of finesse. However, rather than being just the generic eatery for this area - in other words, expensive and clean cut - Mayur achieves something few of the others bother to, takeaway. So, if you live local in town, this could be the ideal accompaniment for a night in with a DVD or to have friends around without going to too much trouble or effort when perhaps all you really want to do is relax. The menu itself is bursting with options and really caters for all tastes. Indeed, for those who are less keen on Indian delicacies, this is arguably the best place to enjoy fine cuisine and overcome such aversions that, let's face it, is why people often like certain types of food and not others. Picture it now, the "oh, I don't like tapas person," or "I only really like to go Italian" kind of individual. Well Mayur on Duke St acts an intermediary or bridge for sceptics just on the well-cooked, eye-catching dishes - a rare gift that few restaurants can achieve. It also wins over people, firstly with the standard of service from waiters and waitresses with personality, who can engage with the visitors and boost their enjoyment of an evening. Unfortunately, like many eateries on Duke St, they are not the cheapest compared to other areas of town but it does deliver decent value for money by comparison too. This is one of the few places in Liverpool that can star as a takeaway of repute and as a classy restaurant. It's up to you how to sample that cuisine, talking around a table or in the company of a Hollywood blockbuster.

On Duke Street lies one of those curry houses that people wind up liking so much, they compare all…read moreothers to it. Mayur has a loyal following and I can see why. The meals are pretty special and the prices really won't lighten your wallet at all. The decor here is absolutely fantastic with ornate wallpaper, dripping chandeliers and offers those cosy private booths for the larger parties as well as romantic tables for two. Well, depending on who you're with. The staff are very friendly indeed and extremely accommodating, very talkative but maintain their politeness throughout. There's plenty of choice for the veggies and carnivores alike and even with booze you only end up paying about £15 each for the whole thing, starters and breads included too. Not bad, eh? The only thing that lets it down is it's not located particularly centrally, but the fact that you have to trek a little to it only adds to its charm and character, and it's certainly worth the extra walk.

The food was good, but the restaurant was incredibly dark inside. The dishes were presented on…read moremetal trays, which I found unappealing. It felt like a cafeteria tray in a mental institution. The restaurant was so dark that I had to use my phone's flashlight to read the menu. Some of the dishes I had ordered were listed under different names on the menu. This could be because the restaurant is from a region of India where the dish is called something else. For example, Dahl makhani was not listed on the menu, but the lentil dish was, and it tasted the same to me. The menu itself was difficult to read due to the low lighting and the confusing layout. It was like a maze, with columns and rows that didn't make sense. I had to carefully navigate through the menu to find what I was looking for. It was a frustrating experience, and I wish the restaurant had a better-designed menu.

Much enjoyed. Halal as well. Cocktails are good. Nice menu. We enjoyed the samosas, lamb chops and…read moremore. Very busy! Get a reservation. Walk in will wait around 45 minutes. Although we were told. It was not usually like this on a Monday.

I've been eyeing EastZEast out of the window of my chambers for months now but ended up here…read morerandomly off a pub crawl* because the American client/friend of my bf's that we were showing around Manchester turned out NEVER TO HAVE TRIED INDIAN FOOD. The doorman dressed in gorgeous Indian finery was an exciting start and we were warmly greeted on arrival. Drinks were served promptly from the friendly bartender. Downstairs in the fancy dining room we enjoyed some poppadoms with a stellar pickle tray - much wider choice than usual including my favourite lime pickle and a couple of other unusual choices. For mains I had the peshawari chicken, a new dish from their punjabi specialities section which was rich and flavourful, I'd recommend it. I also ordered an aubergine side dish which I thought was absolutely excellent although i could barely eat it as my mains portion was so generous. This is easily up there with Akbar's and Zouk as one of the premium Indian restaurants in Manchester city centre.

I cannot knock the dedication of East Z East's host. In all weathers he stands outside in full…read moreregal regalia, greeting patrons and pointing them in the direction of the valet service, something it's taken us so long to grasp on this side of the pond. How handy is that for a city centre? Located right on the edge of the heart of Manchester's shopping district, it's a great spot to stop off on the way home or make an effort for in the context of a night out. And its riverside location certainly doesn't hurt. The Punjabi themed menu is delicious and inspiring. One of my favourite accompaniments is the aloo paratha, a chapatti which you think looks dry but is actually chockfull of coriander and tender, moist mashed potatoes. The Karahi section is truly amazing, with a tasty chickpea dahl, paneer shahi (Indian cheese with cream of cashew nuts, mustard seeds and tomatoes), and some incredible, melt in the mouth meats. Seafood is super too, the tiger prawns with peppery leaves being an excellent choice. We had delicious marinated white fish, tandoori chicken, mixed starters and a truly awe-inspiring giant naan on a tree. Wowsers! It was a great place to bring my London colleagues for a lovely bit of dinner on a Tuesday night. They were so accommodating, and brought all our food over speedily, even bringing us extra mango chutney and onion and tomato for our poppadoms. It's not formulaic or over-traditional, and it feels special. This place has a modern twist, and housed in one of the most impressive riverside buildings the city offers it makes for a delightful dining experience with its soft neon lighting, urban styling and water feature. It's definitely for connoisseurs who are looking for something slightly different, and it's a great place to bring a date or a family member... anyone you're looking to impress really!

OMG, OMG, OMG - Chennai Dosa just rocks in its new location!…read more Previously in the rather dodgy Stretford area of Manchester, it was always a love/hate relationship of having to go here to get great South Indian food but potentially getting shot walking across the car park at night... But now in Northenden it's much easier and it's still the same amazing food. Really rustic, really cheap, really authentic - their Dosa, Idli and a variety of other pancake style dishes are to die for. £28 for 4 peoples food and a beer - great stuff, basically just go here, now!!

Located on the main road at Northenden this restaurant used to be an Italian. The inside is still…read moredecorated in the old italian style, though some effort to make it more authentic to the cuisine has taken place! Food wise, we were welcomed in with great service from the manager who advised us on what each dish was. He was more than happy to help with suggestions and even stopped us from ordering too much. This place is famous (as the name suggests) for its dosa's, and they are very very tasty. There is an advertisement for a huge long dosa but unfortunately they aren't ready to be able to serve this yet, but I'll be sure to come back with 10 friends to share it once they are!