THE mist swept across the moors as we drove towards Wilpshire on a bleak Saturday night but the Spice Lounge shone out like a beacon.

The building still looks likes a pub from the outside but once inside, you instantly feel like you’re in an Indian restaurant, with fragrant aromas and luxurious decor.

A huge elephant statue at the entrance added to the atmosphere.

We were shown to the lounge area which was very comfortable with an open fireplace, luxurious leather seats and big plasma TV.

A slight criticism is that you may need a magnifying glass to read the favourites section on the menu as the writing is tiny.

The signature dish menu looked impressive, with a range of imaginative dishes from drunken seafood to sweet chilli shashik.

After ordering poppadums with chutney tray as our starter, I opted for the Green King Prawns — so called because of the small forest of coriander it is served with — in a medium strength sauce.

I love a liberal sprinkling of coriander in my curries as much as the next man but it completely overpowered the dish. However, the prawns were big and juicy and cooked to perfection.

My fiancée chose the sizzling hot Asian-style Khori, which was chicken tikka served with tomato puree, diced onions, capsicum, cloves, garlic, ginger and spices served in a wok. It was delicious, with big chunks of chicken and a sauce which packed plenty of punch. I couldn’t resist mopping up the remnants with my garlic naan bread.

We rounded the evening off with two coffee liquors sat on the comfy leather couches in front of that fireplace.

VERDICT

  • Food: 7
  • Drink: 8
  • Service: 8
  • Atmosphere: 7
  • Value: 7