Stepping into Grand Trunk Road, I knew this wasn’t going to be your average bog-standard curry experience.

It’s only been open for 12 days but it’s already a favourite amongst the locals with tables booked up days in advance.

It’s easy to see why – everything from the spectacular gold, rustic and authentic décor to the delicate scent of spices wafting through the air – make this restaurant a force to be reckoned with.

I’m allergic to fish and seafood so going anywhere Asian can be a bit of a minefield for me, but founder Rajesh Suri made me feel instantly at ease.

The menu is a refreshing mix of unique food – it doesn’t have your average kormas, passanders or tikka masalas.

Even the poppadums (£1.75) were different, with unique dipping sauces such as beetroot and tomato and cardamom.

We sampled an array of starters, including the Rawalpindi ka Chapli (£6.95) – a minced chicken kebab with a gorgeous mix of spinach and tamarind.

The Kabil ki seekh kebab (£12.95), a minced lamb kebab, was a little on the spicy side but nothing too debilitating.

My favourite was the Indian street food staple Delhi ki Chaat (£5.95), wheat crisps and a chickpea salad on a bed of sweet yoghurt and chutneys. It was soft but filling and had a lovely spice level.

For the main, I ordered the Banarasi grilled stuffed paneer, Hari Gobi (£11.95). It came with two slabs of paneer cheese stuffed with mango, tiny red peppers filled with cream cheese and braised broccoli.

They tasted fresh, light and not at all stodgy and the cheese really bought out the flavour of the spices.

My guest ordered the Awadh Ka Achari Gosht (£14.95), which was also warmly received.

She said the meat in the hearty dish – boneless lamb, pickling spices and yoghurt gravy – was the most tender she had ever tasted.

We mopped everything up with Applewood smoked cheese naan. It sounds ominous but the flavours worked really well together.

I can’t recommend this place enough, and I’ll definitely be back – as soon as I can get a table, that is.

RATING: Five stars