Rajas

On crossing the bridge into the ancient market town of Bakewell, one of the first places to greet you is Rajas Indian Restaurant. It was a chilly night when we were welcomed inside and we were glad to take our seats beside a crackling open fire. On the menu and specials board we found a range of exquisite dishes from across India, including tandoori cuisine cooked over charcoal, vegetarian choices, children's options and even English meals. The chef here has honed his skills over 20 years with a view to ensuring his customers enjoy a unique dining experience - which we certainly did.

From the tempting array of classic Indian starters we began with the mixed kebab accompanied by light onion bhajis. After much deliberation, we then settled on Bakewell achar balti spring lamb - incidentally the chef's favourite dish. The lamb was marinated in a mouth-watering lime and mango pickle and paired with a capsicum, tomato and coriander sauce which resulted in an explosion of flavours. With a large, fluffy garlic naan, pilau rice, a side dish of sag aloo and a wonderfully mellow house wine, this was indeed a meal fit for a rajah. Discovering that the restaurant offers a takeaway service and free delivery, as well as a wide choice of beers and wines, was an additional pleasant surprise. But the jewel in the crown of Rajas is the attractive patio overlooking Riverside Gardens - perfect for alfresco summer dining.