THE Indian Ocean is the warmest ocean in the world and I have to say that the hospitality in the Indian Ocean restaurant in Theydon Bois matches it.

This restaurant is located opposite the Green and whenever I pass the restaurant, it's busy and if you mention the restaurant to anyone from Theydon Bois or elsewhere they always say how great it is.

I assumed it was the food that people went back for but people were there because this restaurant has such a great atmosphere.

The view from my window seat was fantastic on a warm Saturday evening, looking out over a traditional English village green.

The restaurant is modern and cool with lots of space, but best of all the staff are welcoming, chatty, good fun and nothing is too much trouble for them.

For a starter I had a harrylan kebab which was marinaded green chicken and tasted really good and my fellow diners had mixed seafood starters, which were a good size and were nice but not exceptional.

For a main course we had chicken tikka masala, which was quite spicy and had too much sauce on the chicken. We also had a vegetable and meat thali.

The portions were very generous but there was nothing special about it.

For dessert the old favourite menu came out with the various frozen delights that are usually offered except on this occasion there were two very special desserts a wonderbebe (egg man) and a punky.

These two desserts are ice-cream inside a plastic toy and this alone makes the Indian Ocean very child friendly.

Aside from the frozen desserts, children were dining on a Saturday night and were very happy and very welcome in the restaurant.

The Indian Ocean has good food but what makes it such an enticing place to visit is the service and location and I am sure I will be returning very soon.


INDIAN OCEAN
Coppice Row,
Theydon Bois,
Essex
CM16 7ES
Tel: 01992 812658