When an unassuming Indian restaurant in a quiet suburban town is busy on a Wednesday night, you know straight away that you’re onto a good thing. Panahar was absolutely buzzing during our visit and, after just a few minutes in the company of enthusiastic co-owner Jalal Rahman, it became obvious why. On top of serving truly excellent Indian and Bangladeshi cuisine, Panahar is well known in the nearby community for its charity dinners, which have raised more than £175,000 for worthy causes since the restaurant opened in 2000. This has clearly helped to make loyal customers of many local residents.
The meal began, after the customary poppadoms, with a starter of enormous battered king prawns and juicy chicken tikka. Our main courses were absolutely superb, comprising a dark and enticing gosht kalia (a lamb-based stew), devilishly creamy green chicken masala and a succulent king prawn bhuna, all accompanied by pretty much the best saag paneer I have ever tasted.
The evening was further boosted by a live string quartet playing a mixture of classical pieces and Beatles tunes, which by the end of the night had diners tangoing in the aisles. Certainly not your average high street curry house, Panahar delivers on all fronts
