Kulshi is Urmston’s best-kept secret. Situated on one of the area’s main strips, to the uneducated eye Kulshi just looks like any other unimposing Indian restaurant, but once inside you feel like you have just stepped into the tardis. The stunning 100-year-old structure with its grand, lofty, half moon ceiling and original wooden beams is a sight to behold. The building has a varied history, having been reincarnated several times as an ice rink and snooker hall, and now reborn as a chic and unique dining establishment. It is spacious with a clean and simple design concept, and evidently no expense has been spared. The results allow you to wine and dine in ultimate style. The high-backed handcrafted leather chairs have a medieval quality and create private, almost booth-like dining areas.

Kulshi, not only boasts impressive surrounds, but the menu is a superb example of how things should be done. This is authentic, fine Indian food at its best. There is an extensive range of exciting dishes taking influence form across India’s regions. We delved into the chef’s special starter platter, which offered a range of delicacies like chicken malai tikka, vegetable samosas, til prawns basted in a delightful batter, chicken tangary marinated with almonds, pistachios, black pepper and lemon – which was one of my personal favourites – and the lamb chomp tikka marinated in lemon juice was another taste sensation in this entrée feast (£16 for four to share).

Our main course was a veritable royal banquet of Indian spices, aromas and flavours. A popular traditional Indian dish well worth sampling was the mutter panner (£6.50) – home-made cottage cheese cooked in a special spicy sauce with green peas full of fine aromatic flavours. The fish dacca (£8.95) was another delectable treat. This fish in spicy batter, sprinkled with sesame seeds was a delightful alternative to other more renowned mild Indian dishes. The lamb Punjabi (£8.50) – cooked in green chillies with ground almonds and coconut – is worth travelling the length and breadth of Manchester for. It is clear that the devoted and highly experienced chefs at Kulshi relish the craft of creating fine Indian cuisine.

There is a traditional Indian dessert bar for after dinner indulgence offering a range of enticing sweets such as kiar, which is an Indian rice pudding, gajarella, an Indian carrot pudding, rassgulla and semia. There is also an extensive, high quality wine list with prices ranging from just £10.95 to £25.95.

Whether for an evening of celebration with friends and family or an intimate evening with a loved one, the friendly, knowledgeable staff, striking building, quality decor and very reasonable prices make Kulshi at Urmston well worth a visit.