BESIDE a good range of curries, from baltis to vindaloos, attentive service is always on the menu at Prince Indian Brasserie.

Staff at the restaurant in London Road, Southampton, are always very polite and friendly from the moment you walk in the door.

On this occasion, manager Mohammod was also on hand. He makes time to chat to customers and gives the feeling of a personal service.

After beginning our meal with the almost obligatory poppadoms, we went for starters.

I normally skip starters at Indian restaurants in favour of extra poppadoms but in the interest of reviewing we decided to try some.

My mother and I went for deep fried vegetables which came with a tasty dip. I had a bit of a surprise when I chomped through what I thought was an okra in two bites and it turned out to be a chilli but the potatoes were especially good.

My boyfriend opted for king prawn butterfly – a king prawn flattened and marinated in spices, cooked in breadcrumbs and deep fried.

While prawn dishes can sometimes be a bit stingy this was succulent and plentiful.

For our main course my mother and I – a vegetarian and vegan respectively – went for a mezze style meal, ordering a number of side dishes to share.

My favourite dishes were the lentil and garlic-based tarka dal and sag bhaji – fried spinach.

The stronger flavour of the tarka dhal contrasted well with the spinach. Another good side dish choice is chana chilli –spicy chick peas that deliver a satisfying fiery kick.

Mushroom fried rice was the perfect accompaniment, creating a meal with varied tastes and textures that wasn’t too heavy.

My boyfriend had chicken jalfrezi which was as it should be – hot, rich and fragrant.

My mother and boyfriend both had ice cream to finish which was excellent quality.

The prices were very reasonable, with main dishes typically costing between £6 and £10.

The restaurant has a pleasant ambiance and thanks to the layout – with four-seater booths as well as an open space where tables can be joined together – it caters well for both small and large parties; something worth considering in the Christmas party season.

SALLY CHURCHWARD

Prince Indian Brasserie
44 London Road,
Southampton.
023 8022 2030