CONFIDENTIAL PROMOTION
WITH its linen tablecloths, beautiful glassware and cosy velvet booths, Asha's seems almost too decadent for lunch. But who says that daytimes are for schlepping round with a pasty? Live life to the full with a delicious executive lunch at Asha's.
Watch out Asha's – when I win the lottery I'm going to poach your pastry chef so she can make me puddings every single day
The unobtrusive yet professional service and the lavish surroundings make Asha's perfect for a business lunch or just an indulgent treat. Confidential combined business with pleasure when we dropped in to try out the executive lunch menu. Actually, that's a lie – we tucked in, enjoyed ourselves and forgot all about work for a bit.
The individual kebab platter makes a great starter. You get all the fun of a feast and you get to keep it all to yourself – result. The lamb chops of the Barrah kebab are sizzling and spicy, the chicken is moist with all the flavour and juices sealed in by the creamy cheese, cashew nut and cardamom marinade and the seafood seekh is an interesting addition to the trio, offering something which is lighter yet no less tasty for it.
Main courses provide a veritable banquet too with generous portions and a good selection of curries, as well as some lighter options. Accompanied by a choice of breads and rice or salad, you can order a range of dishes and share with the whole table or pick your favourite and refuse to give away even the slightest morsel.
The rogan josh was rich, perfumed and fragrant – just as you'd want from this classic dish – whilst the murg makani was buttery and moreish. The murg jalfrezi was a subtle reworking of the quintessential Indian chicken curry. Beautifully-presented and topped with zesty lemongrass, it was creamy and light, with just a hint of tomato coming through. Scottish salmon tikka salad was another hit. The citrussy dressing made the organic salmon come alive. It's a light and colourful dish that makes a great gluten free option.
Breads were fresh and light, not greasy at all. Rice too was fluffy and perfectly-cooked. At Asha's, it's all about the little details. From the cucumber-infused water to the care and attention that goes into every bite, you just know everything is going to be spot on.
Spot on doesn't even begin to describe the desserts. The New York cheesecake was quite simply the best cheesecake the team had eaten. We disagree on a lot, but on this we were unanimous. How do they get that texture? The chilli chocolate tart, served with chilli ripple ice cream, was something to fight over, fencing each others spoons to get to the molten chocolate that was slowly oozing from its centre.
Desserts are all made in-house. Watch out Asha's – when I win the lottery I'm going to poach your pastry chef so she can make me puddings every single day.
Asha's executive lunch offer includes a small glass of wine, a half of beer or a soft drink. Two courses costs £16.95 and three courses costs £20.95.
Call 0161 832 5309 to book or click here.
