Cinnamon Tree Indian Cuisine
Indian and South Asian
0.5 miles
1 High Street, Halstead, CO9 2AA
Although it has only be known as Cinnamon Tree Indian Cuisine for a year, this charming restaurant and its owners have been serving delicious, authentic Indian food for over 12 years. Halstead and the surrounding villages are not short of choice when it comes to Indian cooking, and competition is steep, but the Cinnamon Tree is thriving and popular with both locals and visitors. Upon entering, diners are met with powerful aromas, while traditional music plays softly in the background. The crisp white table linen stands out stylishly against the earthy colours of the restaurant itself, and gentle spotlighting further relaxes the atmosphere while highlighting trendy artwork on the walls.
The first page of the menu offers an outline, history and introduction to the cuisine being prepared in the kitchen. The poppadoms - a must for any Indian dining experience - can be ordered with the in-house special chutney, a blend of tamarind and fruits with a peppery kick. For starters, the mixed platter offers a grand beginning to your meal with a medley of herbs, spices, colours and textures. There are also plenty of prawn and vegetable appetisers for a lighter option. Along with the much-loved korma, madras and tikka masala curries you'll find more unconventional dishes, and the staff are happy to point customers in new directions when it comes to choosing their food. There is an abundance of choice including tandoori, biryani and Bengali dishes, not to mention the chef specialities, which offer even more variety. The tiger prawn dishes, such as the jhinga khandani, are excellent value, and other pleasures include the lamb lazeez and the korai chicken. A real plus with this menu is the presence of a vegetarian section. Rather than just vegetable versions of the above, there are offerings like the anushka, which uses seasonal vegetables, and the chaad shabji with mushrooms and yogurt.
'The chefs delight in making food that delights you' - that's the motto at this restaurant, and they're certainly living up to it. And it won't just be the food that delights you, but also the prices, portions and personnel.
The first page of the menu offers an outline, history and introduction to the cuisine being prepared in the kitchen. The poppadoms - a must for any Indian dining experience - can be ordered with the in-house special chutney, a blend of tamarind and fruits with a peppery kick. For starters, the mixed platter offers a grand beginning to your meal with a medley of herbs, spices, colours and textures. There are also plenty of prawn and vegetable appetisers for a lighter option. Along with the much-loved korma, madras and tikka masala curries you'll find more unconventional dishes, and the staff are happy to point customers in new directions when it comes to choosing their food. There is an abundance of choice including tandoori, biryani and Bengali dishes, not to mention the chef specialities, which offer even more variety. The tiger prawn dishes, such as the jhinga khandani, are excellent value, and other pleasures include the lamb lazeez and the korai chicken. A real plus with this menu is the presence of a vegetarian section. Rather than just vegetable versions of the above, there are offerings like the anushka, which uses seasonal vegetables, and the chaad shabji with mushrooms and yogurt.
'The chefs delight in making food that delights you' - that's the motto at this restaurant, and they're certainly living up to it. And it won't just be the food that delights you, but also the prices, portions and personnel.
Open: Sun-Thurs 5.30pm-11pm; Fri & Sat 5.30pm-midnight (lunch bookings by request)