AJ’s Indian Restaurant

If an official ceremony could be held to declare this cosy Indian eatery a local treasure, its massive fan-base would be all for it. Attentive service from chatty owner and host Sanjay Sood is part of the charm, and the food is a cut above. Papdi chatt is a crunchy, tangy, chickpea-based starter, while paneer khumb, cheese-stuffed field mushroom, gets a flavour boost from ginger and coriander. Baingan tamatar, eggplant cooked in tomato, is a tad oily but sweet and smoky, while chicken chettinadu tests chilli tolerance levels. Skip the usual basmati for buttery, nutty pilau rice and the earthy wholemeal bread, lachha pratha.