Set at the end of Kenn Road, where it joins Old Street in the centre of the seaside town of clevedon, Bangla restaurant's quiet frontage hides a wealth of authentic Indian lusciousness. After a day spent breathing the English sea air, we were in need of some relaxation and refuelling, and what better way to treat ourselves than with a taste of something a little exotic. This excellent restaurant provided the food, the setting and the service to ensure us a hearty and tastebud-warming dining experience.
As soon as we stepped inside, the rich gold decor enveloped us in a vibrant Indian ambience. Each table is set in its own booth, so romantic meals can be intimate and group outings are cosily surrounded, with room for everyone to enjoy themselves. I'm already planning to return for my next birthday night out - the superb wine list and fully stocked bar would certainly help the evening to go with a swing.
The food at Bangla is the real star of the show, displayed on a menu that offers a variety of dining options for any occasion. Choose a set meal if the choice is too much - for £16.95 for one diner, you can tuck into a feast of prawn puri, murug makhani (featuring marinated pieces of succulent chicken), mushroom bhajee, pilau rice and naan bread. If you're in the mood for mixing and matching (as my friends and I were) a plethora of starters, mains and sides are at your disposal. We opted for a mixed shared platter for four to start, comprising king prawn butterfly, lamb chop, tandoori chicken, onion rings and vegetable samosa - a few fights over forks had to be resolved before the first course was over.
For mains, we selected a variety of dishes to sample. My vegetarian friend eagerly tucked into a mushroom biryani, which she declared full of flavour and better than any of our meat options. I had to argue though, because my chef's speciality shahi akbari chicken was outstanding - the diced, barbecued chicken was brought alive by special spices and herbs. For those who feel like staying a little closer to home, there is a good selection of English dishes too, including 12oz rump steak, fried scampi and roast chicken. Every favourite curry you could hope for can be found on the menu, and the specials are well worth straying from your beaten culinary path for. We chose a variety of vegetables and side dishes to complete our sumptuous spread, and everyone left with full bellies and wide smiles.
Bangla has been enchanting tastebuds across the South West for over 20 years, with a sister restaurant in Bridgwater drawing diners in just as this one does. All the food is free from artificial additives and colourants, and they offer special events such as 'Banquet Night' every Wednesday and Thursday night - enjoy a drink, starter, main, rice or naan and a tea or coffee for just £9.95. My friends and I certainly plan to return very soon to take advantage of this and more of Bangla's expertly executed cuisine.
