THE EASTERN EYE

8A Quiet Street. Tel: 01225 422323

Prices: Very reasonable. Starters vary between £2.50 - £5.90, although most are under £4; main courses are £6.90 - £15.50, although most dishes are under £10. Most side dishes are £3 or under. Indian food has all but become the English national dish, and even the Queen is known to love a good curry. Most people have their favourite Indian and if the Eastern Eye isn't already top of your list, it should be. The restaurant consistently gets rave reviews in local and national media and it's not difficult to see why. We visited mid week when it is usually possible to get a table straight away, but on Friday and Saturday nights, the restaurant is always packed out so do book a table ahead of time. The first thing that strikes you about The Eastern Eye is the décor. Only an Indian restaurant in Bath could have a pink, white and gold Georgian interior, complete with glass domes in the ceiling and sequinned Indian tapestries on the walls instead of the traditional flock wallpaper! We tucked into a couple of Papadoms and mango chutney while we contemplated the extensive menu. I decided to order the Onion Bhaji, while my partner chose the Dhaka Chicken Roll (chicken marinated in herbs and spices, shallow fried and rolled in egg layered parata). Both dishes were delicious - the two huge bhajis, a traditional favourite, were crisp on the outside and soft on the inside, and very filling. The Dhaka Chicken is marinated for 12 hours making it wonderfully tender and flavoursome.Most of the dishes are freshly prepared to order which means that the chefs are usually willing to do something a little special or unusual if you request it, although it's best to ask on quieter nights. Mr Choudhury, managing director of The Eastern Eye, is always delighted to make recommendations or instruct the chef to prepare something different. On this occasion, however, we chose from the menu. My partner selected the Korai Chicken, a Bengali dish made with tomato, onion and fresh herbs, served with special fried rice and a Keemanan (nan bread stuffed with minced meat). Despite the dangerous-looking deep red colour of the dish, it was only medium hot and he pronounced it one of the best Indian dishes he'd ever tasted, far better than the 'safe' Tikka Massalla or Passanda he would usually choose. I went for one of the restaurant's vegetarian specialities, a Vegetable Biriany and a Peshwari Nan (nan bread stuffed with almonds and coconut). The Biriany was superb - with sweet sultanas, crunchy cashews and packed with vegetables, served with a rich, spicy vegetable curry. I love to eat curry with a serving of cool, creamy yoghurt, which they were happy to supply. Despite feeling absolutely podged by this point, we decided to try the dessert menu for the sake of this review. You don't usually go to an Indian restaurant for the desserts, so the choices were mostly ice cream and sorbet dishes, the ideal light conclusion to a rich and filling meal. My partner chose mango sorbet, which was fruity and refreshing, while I opted for the 'traditional Indian' pistachio and almond ice cream. Mention must be made of the high standard of service at The Eastern Eye. The waiters are attentive, efficient and helpful and even on very busy evenings, you will not be kept waiting for long. With fantastic food, excellent service and a buzzing atmosphere, I'm sure even Her Majesty would enjoy a night out at the Eastern Eye!

Laura Phillips
Bath Magazine

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