Authentic Punjabi food without setting foot in the sub-continent may be hard to come by, but Hannah restaurant had an impressive selection, without even having to go outside the county.
The Whitchurch eatery has been open since December and is owned by chef Rafiq and his wife Tess.
It is not a traditional curry house – with light decor and imported furniture, it is an Indian restaurant where all the food is prepared without artificial colours, flavours or preservatives.
Popaddums and pickles were brought to start, including a fresh, tangy lime pickle which was not over-hot.
Starters included samosas which were bursting with vegetables and wrapped in a light pastry, tasty onion pokora – similar to a bahji – and alloo tikka – potatoes cooked with fresh coriander, green chillies and fried. These were all served with a side salad, the perfect foil to the mild to medium dishes.
There were few other customers in on the Wednesday night we visited, and we were treated to fantastic service. Rafiq brought out many of the dishes, explaining how they were made, and came to check they were to our liking.
Main courses were plentiful; lamb jeera was cooked with herbs, the flavour of which came through in the dish.
Nicely spiced and full of fresh ingredients, the lamb achari was also excellent. Main courses were served with pea and onion rice, again bursting with vegetables, and a selection of nan bread, including cheese.
Unusually, there was a good variety of puddings on offer, including traditional ice cream kolfi. This came with coconut to add texture, and a mango sauce. It tasted excellent.
Spiced rice pudding also worked brilliantly, the spice cutting through the sweetness of the pudding.
The menu had an invitation to ask for anything we may have wanted that wasn’t listed. The choice was huge, so it would have been difficult to think of anything that wasn’t mentioned.
There is also a buffet, which is available every evening, with the restaurant open seven days a week, until midnight.
Hannah offered an excellent variety of good value, fresh-tasting food which is a cut above standard ‘curry house’ fare.
And all without travelling too far.
Hannah 01948 666699.
Food for Thought review by Wendy Searle.