Rosina’s
Category: Under £20
I was in a very happy mood as I left work as I had been invited out for a curry with a girlfriend, one because I love curry and two because it meant we could have a good natter without our partners. When I found out we were going to Rosina’s I asked, “Are you sure it’s an Indian – it doesn’t sound like one?” I then thought “Well it can’t be a very good one – who would open a curry house within a mile of one with such an excellent reputation?” How wrong could one be!
As we walked into Rosina’s which, I have to say, bears no resemblance to the usual Indians I have previously frequented. I felt I’d been transported to somewhere I’d been before but couldn’t quite place. We were warmly greeted and asked if we wanted a drink before we ate, we agreed a drink would be nice as it was a lovely warm evening and I wasn’t quite ready to tuck into a plate of Tikka Masala! We climbed the steps (which incidentally are not for the faint hearted) to enter a very large room which took me by surprise. It was very modern and the furniture would be at home in a New York loft apartment or David Hockney’s lounge, with some chairs which can only be described as giant hands!! There is a raised dance floor and music area to one corner. The bar itself is very small and doesn’t stock a very large varied range, but it does stock some new and unusual drinks. I decided to have Magners Cider – not cheap, but well worth its money and my friend settled for a soft drink, she’d drawn the short straw and was driving. We decided to take our drinks out onto an open air terrace at the back of the building which could seat 30 comfortably. It was quite unusual and unexpected, the tables had little bowls (with spoons – so no worries of whose grubby hands have been in before yours) containing Indian nibbles.
Downstairs in the restaurant the décor is different again; if you’re expecting flocked wallpaper and tinny Indian music you’re in for a shock. The restaurant is very Mediterranean with a Byzantine flavour, immaculately clean, airy and fresh. The music had an Eastern European/Asian beat and slowly it began to dawn on me that this restaurant reminded me of a little exclusive eating place on the shores of the Bosphorous in Ortokoy (Istanbul) only without the same price tag!!
Upon perusing the menu and nibbling on popodoms and dips, not the normal Raithia and Mango served here, the food on offer can only be described as different, a twist on some I have tasted before and very unique. To explain further, there are no garish colourings or tastes that one comes to expect with Indian food, the variety on the menu ranges from starters such as Tandoori Mix, Mushroom Pakora and Murgh Rolls. The main courses were very delicate and exciting from Monkfish marinated in Ginger and Lemon to Salmon with Rock Salt to Marinated Lamb, I could go on and on and into raptures. For starters, I chose the mixed Tikka whilst my friend’s Prawns were battered and very lightly spiced just as she likes them, but with a very hot and spicy sauce to dip into. The main courses are very varied and took a lot longer to choose as there were so many we wanted to taste, eventually we settled on a Lamb Pasanda dish and a Murgh Makhani Chicken dish, accompanied by a Peshwari Naan and some hand cooked Chapattis which resembled a cross between a Pitta Pocket and a Chapatti. The dishes were so well cooked that the Lamb and the chicken melted in my mouth, the lamb had been marinated for hours to ensure it was so, according to the owner.
The main courses although fantastic and quite delicately spiced were bursting with a range of spices within, and I think if you liked a very mild Indian, you would need to point this out, as the mild dishes were not as mild as ones we had previously tasted. Normally when eating Indian food you drink lager, cider or water but the tastes within the food here actually made you feel it was right to drink a glass of the house wine (or a bottle!), which is very reasonably priced at £8.75. By this time we were full and couldn’t finish off our main courses so sweets were definitely out, we decided to settle for coffees which we participated of upstairs. Going upstairs for the second time and settling onto a comfy leather sofa, vowing never to eat again and wishing I could expand my waistband, we sat down to people watch ….. and this is one place to watch people!
Value for money – definitely, it’s unique. Taste sensation – absolutely. People watching – yes. Price anything from £15+ for a starter and main course but choose to suit your pocket, you will not be disappointed. If you have time as well, talk to the owners to find out the history of how the restaurant got its name and where they were before starting this venture. All I will say is they have developed and launched this under the watchful eye of their father! I will be heading back soon to try the monkfish as I can’t stop thinking about it!
Reviewed by Kathy Page
Review Summary
Atmosphere ♦♦♦
Food ♦♦♦♦
Service ♦♦♦
Value ♦♦♦♦
Contact Details
Rosina’s
58-60 Saltaire Road
Shipley
BD18 3HN
Tel: 01274 533103
www.rosinas.co.uk
