Brimful of delightful exotic food- Asha’s restaurant review

Think Indian food in Manchester and your mind might wander to the Curry Mile in Rusholme, the half a mile stretch of Eastern cuisine on the outskirts of the city.

But if you’re looking for somewhere closer to the centre, make sure you check out Asha’s. The restaurant, co-owned by Asha Bhosle, (yes, her from the iconic Cornershop song), offers some of the freshest curry dishes we’ve ever had the privilege of trying.

 

Opened in 2015, the restaurant has gained a Michelin star, Cheshire Life’s City Restaurant of the Year, and was the overall winner at the 2017 English Curry Awards. They’re outstanding achievements but for your benefit, we went down to a menu tasting on Wednesday night to let you know our thoughts.

 

I must preface this review by saying that going to an Indian restaurant was a big deal for me- although I love exotic food; I’m not great with spice and feel more comfortable at home with a korma and a carton of milk to cool me down.

 

Thankfully, the night’s menu focused on the smooth and subdued taste of coconut. Each course was specifically chosen by the head of staff to celebrate the joy of South Indian cooking. They were matched with four signature cocktails that complimented each course magnificently.

 

The restaurant itself is a Narnia- so inconspicuous from the outside we almost missed it.

Within the building are three floors including a sultry downstairs bar where we were seated. The lighting is intimate without it being sketchy, and the dark purple and black booths help create a chic upmarket ambiance.

There’s a serious attention to detail from the cutlery, charming gold-rimmed plates and bowls, and unlimited cucumber water.

 

The service is also commendable. We were given a warm welcome, a description of each course and a reminder to “just ask” if we needed more information. Even for a quiet Wednesday night, the place was nothing more of inviting.

 

Our starter was Medu Vada, a fritter made of Urad lentil. The vegetarian bite was light and fluffy and the coconut chutney it was served with had an underlying spice that tantalized our taste buds and made us eager for more.

This was only one of the many delicious sounding vegetarian food options on the menu, and proves the restaurant is suitable for all kinds of people.

 

The Bollibar Bellini, a mix of Prosecco and passionfruit, complimented the food well with its fresh and strong palate.

 

Next up was the Kerela Chicken Fry – crispy chicken tempered with curry leaves and green chilies. As the chilies suggest, the meal is definitely for those who like more of an aromatic spice kick. The chicken is lovingly prepared and it’s this care lavished on all ingredients that make the difference.

The Sea Bream Moilee is billed as a coconut stew with curry leaves and mustard seeds. It was served with a huge helping of lemon rice. I love fish but I rarely choose it as an option at restaurants as I’m scared I’ll be let down.

I didn’t have to worry at Asha’s. The fish was tender and packed with flavour, whilst the sauce remained rich. It’s a good choice for korma-lovers like me who don’t want to sound boring but don’t want overwhelming heat either.

Empress Wu and Delhi Devil were chosen as complimentary drinks during the main course. The prior was a mix of gin and triple sec with lime, pink grapefruit and yuzu bitters; the latter, (my personal favourite), was described as rosemary vodka, fresh pomegranate and mint leaves, muddled with lime juice and lengthened with lemonade.

 

They were simply sublime and it was evident how much time staff had spent on researching the cocktails and making them some of the best Manchester has to offer.

 

Full from the three courses, we worried there was no space in our stomachs for dessert. Our waitress however, assured us we needed to try some and she was not wrong.

The Sevian Payasam (vermicelli with coconut and condensed milk) wasn’t what we were expecting, but it definitely did its job of satisfying our sweet tooth.

Presented beautifully in a little jar, the dessert is similar to a rice pudding but the shavings of coconut made it a lot tastier.

Our fourth and final cocktail, the Cashew Barfi, was a super strong tipple that left the night on a high (and a hangover). Based on the popular Indian dessert with the same name, the drink paired toasted cashew bourbon with condensed milk and Assan tea cold brew.

 

Asha’s has seen success internationally with restaurants in Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Qatar, but there are only two open in the UK. After enjoying the authentic cuisine and heavenly cocktails, we have no doubt we will see more.

 

We’re full to the brim on good food and good vibes; you could say we’re brimful of Asha’s.

 

For more information and individual prices, go on the Asha’s website here.