Restaurant review: Chutney Ivy, Leicester
On entering Chutney Ivy on Halford Street in Leicester’s Cultural Quarter you are immediately impressed by the large, spacious dining and lounge area.
It is stylish and comfortable with a hint of warehouse about it, with high ceilings and suspended light gantries. This makes it feel slightly different to the usual Asian dining experience we’ve come to expect in the UK.
The menu is simple but the chef is clearly focused on providing an experience that makes you feel comfortable and able to experiment. We were also very impressed with the attentiveness of the staff, who were welcoming, well informed and intent on ensuring that we enjoyed ourselves.
There are a wide range of dishes on offer that are made with high-quality ingredients. We chose the ’Ivy Feast’ at £19.95 per head. There are less expensive options available, including a pre-theatre menu.
Starters comprised a very generous helping of mixed vegetable bhajias, Aloo Tiki (Indian potato cakes) shish kebabs and chicken Tikka served with poppadoms and various chutneys. The main course was equally diverse offering for example Chicken Tikka Masala, Karahi Gosht (braised lamb), Subzee Milloni (spiced vegetables) and lots of Basmati rice.
The sweets, as an extra, were well presented. The total bill for two people including a bottle of wine, soft drinks and coffee came to around £60, which we thought was very good value.
Price per head: £25-£30 (three courses & drinks)
Customer parking: NCP opposite
Opening times: Mon-Fri: noon-2.30pm; Mon-Sat: 5.30pm-11pm
