Press release from www.thesentinel.co.uk
From the most flavoursome curries to the crispest poppadoms, restaurant critic Alan Cookman has tried them all. He gives his views on the shortlisted venues in The Sentinel’s Indian Restaurant of the Year competition after sampling a selection from their menus.
RICH flavours and tempting aromas never fail to satisfy – and to the panel of judges in The Sentinel’s Indian Restaurant of the Year competition, there’s one venue which combines all that’s best about the Indian dining experience.
Jalsa in Newcastle has clinched the title for the second year running.
It was up against Nirvana in Hartshill and Blue Tiffin in Meir in the final of the competition. But it was Jalsa’s classically prepared dishes which won over the panel again this year.
All three of this year’s finalists are relative newcomers, and all have flourished in an increasingly diverse and sophisticated market. Although different in layout and decor, all have embraced the new modern approach which has brought style and innovation to our ongoing love affair with Indian cuisine. Each finalist can be said to have broadened the range and regional origin of the dishes they cook, introducing exciting new flavours and aromas to those with a taste for the culture of faraway lands.
Blue Tiffin’s name may evoke tea-time in the Raj, but this popular venue occupies a converted Little Chef restaurant in Meir. It has a vaulted ceiling, an impressive fitted aquarium and walls painted a soft primrose in contrast with the fresh blue linen and rich blue carpeting. The staff are polite and obliging, the atmosphere is mellow and the food is attractively presented.
Like Blue Tiffin, Nirvana in Hartshill is a first-time contender – and a strong one, if only on account of its elegant design and the quality of its fixtures and fittings. With its cream and aubergine walls, classy furniture and artistic lighting features, Nirvana is the prefect environment for fine dining. Service is prompt and the staff will happily guide guests through the range of excellent dishes available. Both Blue Tiffin and Nirvana may well be future winners.
Title-holder Jalsa, of George Street, Newcastle, specialises in Indian and Bangladeshi cuisine served in cool and stylish surroundings. In Jalsa’s elegant, split-level interior, featuring glass, chrome and leather as well as pristine linen, impeccably turned-out waiters combine efficiency and discretion. Manager Dill Hussain, aged 44, said: “I’m extremely pleased to win this for the second year in a row and will be sure to tell everyone who works here.”
Isob Uddin, aged 37, manager of Nirvana, thanked Sentinel readers for their support in the contest. “I would like to thank everyone who voted for us,” he said. “This is our first year in business and we came second, so hopefully next year we can come first. “I’d also like to congratulate Jalsa for winning.”
Shaz Rahman, aged 33, manager of the Blue Tiffin, said: “We have an award-winning chef in a new venue and clientele we’ve known for more than 10 years.
“It would have been nice to have come first but it’s always a pleasure to win something and we tried our best.”
