NAWAB: lamb is a real winner

Nawab, Failsworth

BLUE is certainly the colour but you'll be left feeling anything but at this marvellous addition the the new-age Indias restaurants around the area.

We had taken a fairly early Saturday evening booking as we were going on elsewhere later but there were already plenty of people in and it got busier... much busier.

Attentive and smart waitresses showed up to our table and we ordered drinks while taking in the blue on blue decor and working our way through the myriad of choices you are always faced with when 'going Indian'.

We just had a couple of popadums to get us underway - mindful of not overfilling too early and not enjoying the main course.

Mrs W was swayed by the theatrical entrance of a sizzler hot-plate starter on a nearby table and was not disappointed when ours arrived with chicken tikka, tandoori lamb chops, king prawn tikka and seekh kebabs.

This was devoured though we did have concern for a young waiter who was nursing a hot hand when he got too close to the sizzler when serving... not recommended, though the food on it certainly was.

I had been weighing up the excellent array of fish starters and went for Machli Masala, chunks of haddock marinated in masala sauce before being deep fried.

This proved an excellent choice with the fish tasty and sufficient without being over-facing.

For main course, Mrs W was equally delighted with her Nawab Special, a creamy and nutty chicken dish that was too mild for my taste but nevertheless went down a storm.

If I have one general complaint about Indian cooking, it is that the lamb dishes are often tough, questioning the cut of the meat and/or trying to cook it too quickly.

So when I read of a Punjabi speciality that slow cooks the meat on a low heat in a 'haandi' pot I just had to give it a try. This proved a masterstroke.

I can honestly say that I have never enjoyed a lamb dish so much before in any restaurant, be it Indian or not and this was a triumph of texture and taste.

We had ordered pilau rice and chapatis and I cannot remember the last time we ate everything in front of us for the main course.

We declined sweet but a coffee rounded off the meal which cost around £55 and was a big success.

As we were leaving a large party of around 20 were just taking their places for a 60th birthday party.

Doesn't it jut go to show how our tastes in food have changed over the years.

Twenty years ago the 60-somethings would hardly have ever set foot in Indian restaurants.

If they live local to the Nawab they are fortunate indeed.

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