Indian fine dining

IN the quaint village of Sonning, tucked away on the high street, lies the home of “Indian fine dining”.

Frequented by locals — as well as diners from further afield — The Ivy has a reputation for a more refined menu of Indian cuisine and faultless service. The restaurant has an unusual menu offering traditional favourites with a contemporary twist, and was described by a local as “serving the best Indian food outside India”. Last Wednesday, along with my partner, I went along to try it out for myself.

The exterior of the building has a country cottage look which fits in perfectly with the architecture of the high street, and the large potted plants and hanging baskets add an elegant touch.

The dining room is intimate, warm and busy, even on a Wednesday evening and the ambiance is homely.

The menu has some surprising and intriguing dishes. Starters include an “Ivy special mix” of mussels, king prawn, lamb and chicken tikka, as well as stir-fried calamari with Kerala spices. Mains include lamb shanks, grilled seabass and “Mirchi duck”, a duck breast cooked in a medium curry sauce with green beans.

I must admit I like my Indian traditional, and for me no Indian meal would be quite the ticket without a starter of onion bhaji. The Ivy version came highly recommended, and was a mouth-watering combination of shredded onion and spices with a strong chilli kick.

In my vast experience of eating out in Indian restaurants, I have never before been so impressed by an appetiser. It was without a doubt the best onion bhaji I’ve ever tasted.

To follow we chose a lamb methi masala and chicken rezala. The lamb was tender and succulent with a rich, hot and sweet sauce. The chicken had a smoky barbecue flavour and was just as succulent, with layers of flavours, unraveling with each bite — cumin, cardamom, ginger and chilli combined with rich tomato and sweet onion.

Sag bhagee, pilau rice and Peshwari nan bread accompanied our meal. The sag dish was vibrant and studded with mustard seed. The rice was fluffy and aromatic and the Peshwari nan (my favourite) was again, the best I’ve ever tasted. Slightly charred on the edges with a soft and sweet filling, the handmade bread fresh out of the tandoor oven exceeded my expectations.

This must be the reason why there are so many loyal Ivy customers. The food really is exceptional. The service from owner Bobby and his staff was first class. They were attentive, friendly and knowledgeable.

I will certainly be recommending the Ivy to my friends and I hope to return there very soon.

Booking is advisable, so give the Ivy of Sonning a call on 0118 969 7676 and download their menu at www.ivyofsonning.co.uk