A taste of the East

Huddersfield certainly has no shortage of restaurants jostling, city trader like, to relieve you of your weeks hard earned salary.  So how do we choose one from another?  How do you find that diamond that you just want to keep polishing?

If I were to ask you what attracts you to a new restaurant for the first time and then keep returning, I suspect the answer would be a combination of but not limited to…

a friend recommended it

we saw it and decided to try it

the serving staff were friendly and knowledgeable

the restaurant and facilities are clean

the pricing was reasonable – quality versus cost

a good selection of dishes

and not forgetting of course that the food is delicious

Earlier this week I found my diamond and the following night we did indeed polish it a second time.  Now before I get lots of emails what I’m not saying is that other Indian restaurants in Huddersfield aren’t good.  What I am saying is that I have found a restaurant that ticks all my boxes and writing this review was both easy and difficult in equal measure.  Easy because my personal boxes were ticked, see above, and then hard as I almost selfishly don’t want it to become too successful, we might never be able to get a table again!

Entering the Chutney Mahal your Indian experience begins.  Greeted with the subtle smells of the East enveloping and caressing you, guiding you toward a culinary feast unlike anything you’ll have tried in a long time.  I make no apologies to other Indian restaurants in Huddersfield, this is how it made me feel, others may feel differently.

The restaurant opened in August 2009 and as of now, my third visit(love polishing diamonds!), the only negative I can prise out of my over critical nature is their location on Chapel Hill, a stones throw from Huddersfield town centre.  Being on one of the major arteries into/out of Huddersfield means fast moving traffic and an initial appearance of having no parking available may dissuade people to stop and explore.  Certainly the former is true but across the road there’s a huge free car park available after 6pm.  If you know where the Grosvenor casino is, park there and cross the road…not easy, but well worth the effort.

Seating for up to 60, The Chutney Mahal has an extensive menu and a well stock bar catering for all tastes.  It’s the small things we all take for granted that really count here though.  Bhagat and his son Pavinder, owner and manager respectively, have invested heavily in traditional Indian cooking methods which extend to a traditional Indian clay tandoor oven.  Remember those small things?  The tandoor here is powered by charcoal unlike most tandoor ovens in the area which are powered by gas or propane.  Think gas powered barbecue to charcoal powered barbecue – charcoal makes such a magnificent difference never really appreciated until you taste the food from both – I’m a convert, plain, simple and wonderful with a capital YUM!

The floor plan of the restaurant is over two floors.  The upper floor is and where you first experience the Chutney Mahal, is set aside for a congregational seating area and the bar.  The lower floor is the dining area.  To that end you will find a conveniently located wheelchair ramp inside the restaurant helping those with walking difficulties reach the dining area.  And even though neither Nikki nor I are disabled, we do like to see this level of detail in a restaurant, it shows a level of consideration rarely found in most restaurants.  The father and son team could have taken a far easier route and placed more tables where the ramp is, but client comfort and accessibility are important to Bhagat and Pavinder.  This extends to the inclusion of disabled toilets.

But what about the service?  We’ve all experienced the over friendly annoying waiter or where the waiters appear to look the other way when you’re trying to attract their attention.  Well, I’m pleased to report that the waiting staff are just the right amount of attentive never making you feel claustrophobic or ignored.

In summary then reviewing The Chutney Mahal has had a significant impact on our bank account!  The diamond polishing I mentioned earlier has been polished several times since our first visit.  And now with the added bonus that a take-away service is available delivered right to your door…I’ve added their phone number to our speed dial.  Further, Pavinder tells me that they also provide outside catering!  And with our wedding anniversary coming up, guess what’s going to be on the menu – that’s rhetorical!

The Chutney Mahal – if we awarded stars they would get a full house – superb, but don’t take our word for it.  Call Pavinder and book a table while you still can!

The Chutney Mahal, Folly Hall, Chapel Hill, Lockwood, Huddersfield HD1 3PA  01484 532244