Tandoori Treasure

As we were shown to our table at Moti Mahal, I overheard a man at the table nearby telling his party of friends: “Indian food's not posh though, like French food. It's more comfort food innit.”

I sat down at the table by the window overlooking the Saturday night Covent Garden crowds and looked forward to my fellow diner being proven wrong.

Moti Mahal is a chic, contemporary and stylish Indian restaurant, not one you go for a quick curry after a pint but one where you can share an intimate romantic dinner or celebrate an occasion.

The décor is simple and elegant with the main dining area curving around a glass fronted kitchen allowing diners to see the tandoor.

If it's ambience you're after then Moti Mahal won't rock your world but the food will. The innovative dishes will excite any Indian food lover as well as those with a penchant for fine dining.

They've changed the menu slightly since our visit but it seems to be more refined and as long as the chef hasn't changed I can't imagine the evening would be anything but delicious.

We went easy on the starters as the mains looked too exciting but a serving of lamb chops and tandoori mushrooms was the perfect start to the meal.

We also ordered a bottle of 2004 Pian di Nova Il Borro an Italian red which was described as flavoured, rich and surprising and it was all of those things. If I'm honest, it's topped my list of red wines to date and I've set myself a little challenge to beat it. And no that's not just an excuse to drink more wine. Okay maybe it is a little.

The main dishes however were the thing that shut my ignorant friend on the table nearby up. The lamb shank was perfectly cooked and spiced. It fell off the bone and melted in the mouth and the Murgh Saagwala which was a spicy chicken with spinach was the most familiar feeling dish on the menu but was different enough to be exciting. Accompanied with the chef's selection of breads this was a moreish dish.

Now, I couldn't resist ordering the soft shell crab as this is always a make or break dish at top Indian restaurants and although the morsel I had was delightful that one morsel was not enough to satisfy me and I felt a tad disappointed at the sauce and prawns I was left with after my two bites of crab.