And so we move on to another of Formby's much loved restaurants, the Balti House. One of the…read morethings I love the most about the Balti House is how it's situated inside a small white bungalow, as if a family actually used to live there then decided to open up a restaurant instead and serve a whole load of middle-class Liverpudlian outcasts. Once inside, you are warmly greeted by the helpful staff who clearly know their kormas from their jalfrezis. The food itself is lovely, proving excellent value for money and washed down well by a few pints. We usually stumble here at the end of a 'quiet' night in the pub and find ourselves ordering the really spicy curries, despite the protestations from the staff that it might not be such a good idea (let's just say we always end up regretting it in the morning). Despite this, I would say that the Balti House is easily one of the best restaurants in Formby, offering great food at good prices. This combined with a lovely atmosphere and helpful staff serves to create a charming dining experience.

I'm not a huge fan of Indian food in the first place and I've had quite enough bad curry in…read moreManchester to put me off for life. It was only recently then that I went to Hilal - for a long time Formby's only Indian restaurant, sited inside a small bungalow on the edge of the village. It took a good few strong drinks at a friend's leaving party for me to actual venture inside. I was, I must say, pleasantly surprised. Firstly; the staff were friendly, helpful and even concerned (a friend ordered the extra strength mixed meat dish which he was advised was incredibly hot. When he said that he could handle spicy food, the waiter looked genuinely worried for the lad - a worry that turned out to be founded as he drank off several pints of iced water before he could properly talk afterwards). Secondly I very much enjoyed the dish I picked, a sweet prawn dhansak with delicately flavoured rice, which was a world away from the claggy, creamy versions I had eaten on Manchester's Curry Mile. Hilal has certainly curried favour with me. Sorry.

Just a 5 minute walk from the Prom, the Taj was great. We ate lightly with appys King Prawn Puri,…read moreLamb Tikka, Raita, Crisp Onion Bhaji and a side of Methi Aloo. All were top notch. As Brits living in USA we have missed food this good. It's BYOB. The staff were all lovely and kind. Great value

A very tasty authentic Indian restaurant. The food was amazing full of flavour and generous…read moreportions. I would highly recommend the chicken balti kharai and garlic nann. Thank you to the fabulous staff who cannot do enough for you Shan, Marie and Shoieb. would highly recommend.

I needed some spicy food while I was working in the UK…read more Someone recommended this restaurant. We ate there and I was impressed. The lamb jalfrezi was excellent. A big plus is this restaurant also serves beer. I will say that based off of my experience it was the best Indian food I have ever had.

Excellent food in comfortable surroundings and typically very efficient service. Worth driving down…read moreto.

I bloody love a good Indian, but when it comes to getting one in Formby, the Balti House in the…read morevillage generally gets my vote. However, Shanti gives it a good run for its money. I've been on a couple of occasions for a proper meal and my experiences there with their food have always been very good. It can be quite expensive but with all the additions you end up making to your original choice, it's to be expected a lot of the time. However, if you do have concerns about price, I strongly recommended visiting Shanti of a Sunday afternoon during which they have an all-you-can-eat Indian buffet for just ten pounds. That's right, TEN pounds. And unlike those crappy Chinese all-you-can-eats, where they just seem to make everything a bit crap because you're not buying the meal outright on its own, the dishes on offer at Shanti are made with as much care and are of the same standard as those served during a normal meal. I'm a bigger fan of Indian food than Chinese food anyway, so this represents great value for money and gives an interesting alternative to the traditional roast dinner or carvery that you might usually go for.

The food itself was rather tasty and i enjoyed it. But it was upstaged completely by the rudeness…read moreof who appeared to be the owner to customers and too members of his own staff

My general understanding of the word 'Bengal' is that it is a region in India as well as a type of…read moretiger. Now I'm pretty sure this place doesn't specialise in grilled tiger, so I think it's safe to say their name is a nod to its Indian roots and that there is no need to get on the phone to the RSPCA just yet. Spice of Bengal in Ainsdale specialises in Indian and Bangladeshi dishes available either in a restaurant setting or to order and take away. Their takeaway menu is a bit sparse compared to the restaurant menu which is to be expected, but their eat-in menu is impressively extensive. Helpfully, there is also a section which breaks down what each type of curry contains and how spicy each one is, for all the curry virgins and n00bs amongst you. When I last visited I went for the lamb tikka chilli Bengal curry which, as you can imagine, was rather spicy. Despite how hot it was, it was still delicious as it managed to negotiate the fine line between being too mild and so hot it takes off several layers of your tongue. The restaurant is fairly pleasantly decorated and has a lovely dining atmosphere, with the staff being friendly and attentive at all times. If you're ever in the area, I recommend trying the Spice on offer here.

Wanted to add a bit of spice to my life, so I tried the Spice of Bengal. Being new to indian food,…read moreI found ordering for the first time to be a bit difficult. Fortunately the menu did its best to guide me in the ways of the Spice and helped me to make an excellent choice. The waiter even asked if I wanted my food more, or less, spicy. I was waited on very graciously and I have no complaints at all about the place. Best restaurant I have been to in a few years.

Brilliant food, great service. Only nice Indian takeaway around here in my opinion. Its been around…read morefor years as well, that should be proof enough.

As you may have guessed, this takeaway specialises in Indian cuisine and is located on the Redgate…read moreestate, opposite my old primary school. Its location away from the hustle and bustle of the village (compared to a lot of Formby, the village is definitely booming) means that it is easy to forget about a place like this, especially with the Balti House and Shanti in closer proximity to the comfort of the village. However, if you fancy pigging out on an Indian without leaving the house and would like it cooked for you rather than nuked in a microwave, you could do a lot worse than going to Redgate Indian. The usual suspects are there - korma, jalfrezi, madras, vindaloo (for those of you that way inclined) but on my last visit there I decided to go with one of the house specials, going for the Roshni chicken which was delicious, albeit a bit spicy for my liking (I was warned, but did I listen?) There are also a range of chef's specials as well as the house ones, which while a bit more expensive, are worth it. Whilst there are better in Formby, Redgate Indian is worth a try if you just fancy slobbing in front of the tv with a curry and a can of Special Brew.

I have had the pleasure of dining here on a number of occasions and each time the food and…read moreatmosphere keeps getting better. This is not meant to be disrespectful to the many 'Indian' restaurants in the area but the Ceylon Spice makes them all look average. The big big difference for me is that they (the owners) know how food should taste and have their own ideas. They haven't just cloned a menu because they think that is what you do! Food is perfectly spiced, proportioned and you don't get lost on the menu. My personal favourite has to be black pork with coconut rice. The restaurant has a lovely finish and the staff actually look like they want to be there. On a rare Saturday night off I visited and was charmed by the owners parents who where extremely happy that my 3 year old was enjoying authentic Sri Lankan cuisine. You just cant buy that!!!

Excellent and charming Sri Lankan restaurant. Staff are polite and the food is terrific. Enjoy!read more

Bay of Bengal, as the name suggests, specialises in Indian and Bangladeshi cuisine which you can…read moreenjoy in the comfort of their restaurant or, if you so wish, in the comfort of your own home as they offer a takeaway menu as well as a restaurant menu. The choice of dishes is pretty large and varied, with the menu including a useful selection of chef's recommended dishes which are especially tasty, spicy and full of flavour. The dishes themselves are nothing particularly different from a normal Indian restaurant menu, but it is all made to a fairly high quality and can be enjoyed in a restaurant which is nicely decorated and set out. The staff are attentive and knowledgeable, helping you to choose a dish to suit your palate (as well as warning you off any very spicy dishes) and ensuring you to have a lovely dining experience whilst in their company. A very pleasant place to go if you fancy an Indian meal in a restaurant environment.

Fab food at a reasonable price! Lovely staff & great atmosphere in the restaurant! You can get take…read moreaway too which is great!

One of the best Indian meals that I have had. All vegan and/or vegetarian menu and the flavors were…read moreawesome. With four of us at the table, we got to try a variety of things from the starters (recommend the chutney platter) to main dishes featuring korma, paneer, and Curry. Service was friendly, helpful, polite and efficient. This place is on the top of my list for future visits to Liverpool. This is one place everyone should visit in their lifetime!

One of my favorite restaurants in Liverpool! This place has made me fall in love with Indian food…read more & it's all plant based! You don't even notice it's vegan (if that's an issue to some). I love the cozy and warm feeling when you step into the restaurant. You're greeted by nice employees who seat you right away. I'd definitely recommend making a reservation on weekends though because it can get full. I've had a wide variety of items on the menu and not one has disappointed. I have a favorite food item every time I go. From their starters to their curries and their naan. Everything is flavorful and delicious. Watch out because some items are spicy! Prices are reasonable for the quality and amount of food you get. If you're looking for something new or just good Indian food, please check this place out! Give it a try, I promise you won't be disappointed!

Simply Fantastic food…read more I ordered a medium Madras, as Madras made as normal blows my mind, but I still love the taste. The first fork full. fair play, perfectly as I wanted it. It was a battle, and I still needed a pint of cold milk, but it was absolutely gorgeous! Highly recommended, and will definately be ordering again!!

Looking for a good Indian takeaway, having just moved to the area from the 'home of Balti' (the…read moreMidlands). I must say, this was an excellent meal. Ready in the 20 minutes quoted. Portions good and excellent flavours. Only one gripe is that they don't take card payments, except for on-line orders.