Adbul's, The Tything, Worcester

YOU’RE always spoilt for choice along the Tything’s balti belt in Worcester where various top-notch curry houses compete for trade.

Abdul’s, unlike many of the other establishments, is a bringyour- own booze affair.

So, armed with a suitable range of drinks, my dining companion and I ventured forth on a balmy summer’s evening.

Abdul’s is certainly an intimate affair. Smart, unfussy and light with a minimalist decor.

Entering, we were struck by the fact that only one table was occupied – we thought it would be busy on a Saturday evening.

Apart from a couple of people coming in for takeaways no one else came in to dine during the course of our meal. This both confounded and perplexed us somewhat, because the food we ate at Abdul’s really was most impressive.

However, we didn’t arrive until 9.30pm, so maybe the rush was already over.

The menu emphasised Abdul’s range of balti tandoori-based dishes that are a good mixture of traditional and new specialities.

The waiter may not exactly have been rushed off his feet but the service was excellent.

No sooner had we sat down than a refreshing jug of water was on the table and what seemed like moments afterwards we were giving the nod to some very tasty spicy and plain poppadoms as he served them with a fine array of dips.

For starters, my companion plumped for prawn puree (£3.25).

She has been to countless Indian restaurants and sampled a fair few of these but declared the succulent prawn dish the best she’d tasted. Praise indeed.

I was impressed with my chana puree (£3.25). Both pancakes were of just the right consistency and the chickpeas were complemented by the tangy sauce.

My guest chose tandoori fish (£6.50) for a main course, accompanied by boiled rice (£1.75) and a side-dish of Bombay alloo (£2.50) The spicy fish had plenty of bite and went well with a flavoursome vegetable dressing.

The alloo, of which I presumptuously took a couple of scoops, was just the right, mild taste with generous chunks of potato.

My chicken passanda nawah (£5.95) with pilau rice (£1.95) was a delight, not too rich or creamy as can sometimes be the case.

Abdul’s doesn’t offer dessert but the food we ate was superb, the ambience relaxed and enjoyable, and most importantly the bill, in this era of austerity, a bargain £28.35.

A place like this deserves to be packed on a Saturday night.

HOW IT RATED

Food: 4
Service: 4
Value for money: 5
Ambience: 4