INDISH: New Kids on the Block

Indish

June 2009

Indish,

Broadway,

Chadderton

DON'T let the location of one of Oldham's new brigade of Indian restaurants put you off. It's smack bang on busy Broadway opposite a drive-in fast food restaurant.

But at least that means easy access and once you've parked up at the rear - step inside and be amazed!

Be amazed at the stunning internal decoration that has transformed the building that was once a car wash into a marvellous split-level dining emporium.

Be amazed at the use of water - a wall of blue flowing vertically as a screen between the pre-dining drinks area and the restaurant itself. And another equally mesmorising display behind the bar. And be amazed to by ther quality of the food and service.

They really have got so much right. And there is plenty of choice too.

We went for Chicken Liver Tikka - pieces of chicken liver marinated in light spices,skewered and grilled (£2.95) a strong flavour that really hit the spot.

The other was Chicken Cheese Boti - chicken cubes marinated in a light spicy yoghurt sauce, grilled and topped with melted cheese (£3.45).A cheeky combination that was well worth trying.

For main course - not rushed but not over-delayed despite the restaurant filling up nicely midweek (good sign) - Mrs W went for Lamb Chaat Massala - Diced pieces of lamb in exotic medium spices with chick peas and garnished with cashew nuts (£7.95).

The meat was particularly tender and a real winner from someone who is partial to a massala, though always too sweet for me.

I-d gone for Chicken Gorkali - cooked in an exotic mix of spices, red and green peppers, whole fried red chillies, fresh tomatoes and on a special Nepalese chilli sauce(£8.90). With the main dishes we had also ordered Bombay Aloo (£2.95), pilau rice (£2.10) and a roti each (£1.90).

Mine was a great combination but if I have one gripe about the modern Indian specials that we are now served it is just that - how it is served.

While the more traditional dishes come into their own dishes, too often the specials come ready-served on a plate.

It can and does over-face you. This is not the first time this has happened and I talk to other curry lovers and they say similar.

I am sure if the same amount was put in a dish and onto the hot plate I could then help myself to managable protions to have with the rice and potato and actually end up eating more if not all of it.

Plus it stays warmer in the pot on the hotplate rather than cooling on the plate.

Two lattes rounded off an excellent experience. We bumped into two friends from Chadderton who see the Indish as being well positioned geographically to give it a fine catchment area.

Just make sure you leave some spaces for those further afield. Word will travel fast on this one.