Having been born and raised in Birmingham, birthplace of the Balti, I love curry. When I was invited to review an award-winning Indian restaurant in the heart of Brighton my heart sang. Table for two please – book me in! Indian Summer is a long established and well-loved Indian Restaurant located in the Laines and central to Brighton’s dining quarter. My daughter and I visited on a grey Saturday early evening, stepping through the brightly coloured exterior into an oasis of colour. This is not what the Balti houses in Brum of my youth looked like.. whilst equally as friendly Indian Summer offers a slicker, brighter and more contemporary dining experience. The perfect remedy to a damp British winter weekend.
Painted in bright colours with vibrant furniture the décor sets the tone for the mood. The welcome at Indian Summer is warm and friendly. We were offered menus and served drinks within minutes of sitting down, taking on board a recommendation for their Hibiscus Fizz mocktail. The cocktail menu is one of the stand out features with a dedicated mixologist at the bar churning out exotic creations boasting names such as Jungle Bird and Elephant Martini.
Feeling brave and keen to explore new dishes we agree to order their starter and main sharing menu’s offering a range of popular dishes to tuck into. Drinks in hand and order placed we kick back and soak up the vibrant atmosphere.
Our starters arrive promptly, served on a large platter and beautifully presented. The food looks incredible. We dive in sampling the selection of pakora, paneer, chaat and chicken tikka. I could eat that pakora all day – so tasty, especially when paired with the mint and coriander sauce. The tikka paneer was something new to me, a really tangy appetiser and something I’d definitely order again.
Taste buds tickled, but tummies not quite full it was time for the next course. Another stunning tray of food appeared, an absolute feast for the eyes. For our shared mains we were served Mamaji chicken (a rustic chicken dish); Mewari lamb (delicious, my favourite!); paneer butter masala; tarka dhal; rice, naan and roti. I’ve definitely got stuck in a habit of ordering the same dish every time I order Indian food, so I really enjoyed sampling new dishes and their flavours. We quickly worked out our favourite dishes and ate to our hearts content.
Everything about our experience at Indian Summer felt warm and sunny. Staff were down to earth, friendly and efficient. The food was excellent, whilst sharing new dishes together made the evening more of a dining experience rather than just another curry. Walking out into the Laines as we left, I honestly felt like I’d seen a little bit of sunshine. Sunshine for the tummy, sunshine for the soul. Indian Summer certainly delivers the goods, even in the winter.
Please visit indiansummerbrighton.co.uk for up to date menu information.
