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Saffron Lounge, Uffington: Village hot spot for curry lovers
THE picturesque village of Uffington seems an unusual place to have an Indian restaurant - but it is home to Saffron Lounge.
THE picturesque village of Uffington seems an unusual place to have an Indian restaurant - but it is home to Saffron Lounge.The contemporary restaurant opened about two years ago, and has obviously made a big impact on the community. I visited it on a Tuesday night and it was bustling with diners.
Open seven days a week (including bank holidays), Saffron Lounge offers a delicious buffet for 9.95 a head, as well as an extensive menu offering a wide range of delicious Indian food and a small selection of Thai dishes.
I am a relative latecomer to curries, so, in the past, have stuck to tried-and-tested favourites, such as Chicken Rogan Josh and Chicken Dopiaza, but for the purpose of this review, I decided to break away from tradition and try something new.
After tucking into a papadum with all the accompaniments, I chose the Royal Mix for my starter - an assortment of lamb tikka, chicken tikka and seekh kebab cooked in a tandoor and served with mint sauce. The chicken was succulent, the lamb lean and the kebab delicious
But it was my main course where I really chose to experiment. There were many chef's recommendations on the menu to tempt me, but, after much contemplation, I opted instead for the Xacutti Chicken. This was described as a spicy dish prepared with coconut, flavoured with mustard seeds and topped with red chillis.
Let's just say, after one spoonful, my mouth was on fire. Although I could feel the texture of the coconut in the dish, I couldn't taste anything but the chilli. Again, the chicken pieces were tender and juicy, and although I managed to eat a good few mouthfuls more, the sauce was just too hot for me.
My dining partner chose the Chicken Bhuna, and said the sauce was very tasty but the chicken a bit dry.
Our main course was served with plain rice and the most delicious Peshwari Nan we have ever tasted - thin, but doughy, and the the coconut and honey evenly distributed.
All of this washed down with a glass of dry white and house red, made for a very pleasant meal.
The staff were friendly and attentive, without being too pushy, and the decor stylish.
Overall, Saffron Lounge is a little gem and I would urge everyone to sample its delights.
4 out of 5
Details:
Saffron Lounge, 47 Main Road, Uffington, Stamford, PE9 4SN.
Telephone: 01780 766888. Web: www.saffronlounge.biz.
Menu examples
Main Courses
Shurawath Starters
Hara Tikka – tender morsels of chicken breast marinated with hung curd, fresh mint, coriander and tandoori spices, gently cooked in tandoor (3.95)
King Prawn Roll – sweet and sour prawn with chopped onion, fresh coriander, with crispy pancakes (4.95)
Chef's Recommendation
Chicken Surprise Chat Masala – boneless chicken tikka cooked in tangy sauce sprinkled with chat masala (7.25)
Fried Fish Jafrani – fish marinated with mustard oil and fresh lemon, fried and served with spicy tomato sauce and a touch of garlic (7.25)
Thai Main Dishes
Thai Green Chicken Curry – a spicy curry prepared with coconut milk, green curry paste, eggplant, kefir lime leaves and Thai basil leaves (6.95)
Red Thai Lamb Curry - a mild curry prepared with coconut milk, red curry paste, eggplant, kefir lime leaves and Thai basil leaves (6.95)
Chicken Tikka Masala - sauce made with a delicate blend or aromatic spices and herbs and simmered in cream sauce - (7.25)
Lamb Balti - medium hot curry prepared with ginger, garlic and tamarind (7.25)
King Prawn Jalfrezi - hot and spicy dish prepared with onions, green peppers and garlic and fresh chilli (11.95)
Vegetable Bhuna - medium spiced dish with juicy tomatoes and fried garlic (5.25)
Chicken Shahi Kurma - a mild curry made with yoghurt and spice based sauce finished with cream nuts and almonds (5.25)
Biriyani
Long premium Basamati rice cooked with your choice of meat or vegetable in its own juices with spices, nuts and dried fruits and delicately flavoured wit rose water, served with vegetable curry (7.95 to 13.95)
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Sunday 12 February 2012
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