Indus Tandoori restaurant on Bath Road in Cheltenham is one of the most authentic Indian curry houses in the area. From the outside it stands out, but it’s the inside that really sets it apart.

When you walk into the restaurant the décor hits you straight away! With tiled walls, ornaments hanging from the ceiling and music that transports you straight to India, it creates a spectacular dining experience.

With our visit being the day before Valentine’s Day the place was decked out for the occasion, and with lots of the seating tucked away in cosy corners, it’s an ideal place for a romantic evening for two.

We decided not to go for starters and just have papadoms with all the trimmings whilst we perused the main menu. They were delicious and my other half even said that it was the first lime pickle he had ever actually enjoyed!

For the main I decided to go for the Butter Chicken curry as I am a bit of a weakling when it comes to spice I am ashamed to say, but the dish was by no means without flavour. The sauce was sweet and rich with just enough kick to keep the taste exciting and smooth in equal measure. The chicken was tender and plentiful – I had to get my boyfriend to help me finish it! But the excess curry was the perfect accompaniment to our Peshwari naan which is always my favourite part, and this one was no exception.

My other half went for the Tandoori Mixed Grill and if it wasn’t for how delicious my curry was, I would have had serious food envy! The presentation was brilliant and from the way he wolfed it down I think it tasted pretty good too. There was chicken, prawns and lamb – so an ideal way to try a bit of everything in one go. I know I always struggle choosing which meat to go for when having an Indian.

I tried a bit of the chicken and it was perfectly succulent and juicy with the spicy seasoning making an explosion of wonderful flavours! The portion was also extremely generous, although my boyfriend did manage to finish it all it was that good.

The service we received was fantastic. We were served by a couple of different waiters throughout the meal and also Mr Alam, the owner, himself. Every one of them was extremely attentive and couldn’t do enough for us, which made the experience at Indus so much more special. Mr Alam is clearly passionate about the restaurant’s heritage, which definitely added a personal touch to the evening.

If you’re looking for great food and a great atmosphere then Indus is definitely a place to check out!