Bukharah

The 2013 edition of The List's Eating & Drinking Guide is out now – only £5.95 (+p&p).

This review is taken from the 2012 edition.

Exposed brickwork and duct pipes give Bukharah an industrial feel that is complemented with contemporary furnishings, warm lighting and carefully positioned partitions that create an atmosphere more intimate than a space this size should. The award-winning menu is full of intriguing dishes, and a change in head chef hasn’t changed the quality. The chef’s platter gets proceedings off to a spicy start – the sweet and sour channa and chicken chatts are tangy and filling, while cauliflower pakora stands out. It’s the exceptional dips that deliver the hit on the tongue, however. From the mains, a rasander tava is less spicy and the ginger-infused sauce could do more, but the lamb is superb. The chef’s speciality of king prawn skewers is even better. Enormous, and marinated in chilli, coriander and ginger, the char-grilled prawns are offset with a mild sauce and rice portion. The coriander, onion and chilli-stuffed bukharha naan is worth a try, while for parties of six or more the gastronome dining gives huge choice at decent value.

• High point: Huge, delectable king prawns
• Low point: Some dishes include unexpected sides