SOME restaurants are worth the journey: La Popote in Marton, Hearth of the Ram in Ramsbottom, Nutters in Rochdale, Lily’s in Ashton, Sticky Walnut in Chester, The Lord Clyde in Kerridge, Sugo in Altrincham, we could go on…
The food spanks most self-styled ‘street’ specialists out of the park
…Indian Tiffin Room in Cheadle is up there with the best of ‘em.
The only problem being, as Confidential critic Deanna Thomas wrote in September 2013, the popularity of the place meant it was ‘harder to get into than a damp pair of skinny jeans on Boxing Day’.
Good news then that those Tiffin boys are bringing their bona fide Indian street tuck to us with a second and much bigger restaurant down on Manchester’s new £500m First Street development.
The first thing that strikes you is the colour, with high surrounding windows illuminating a space decked out in flower garlands, old tyres and neon lightsabers. Chefs chip away in a big blue shipping container, whilst in the back a thirsty looking tiger guards the lavvies.
What of the grub? Well, it spanks most self-styled ‘street’ specialists out of the park, with dishes such as the crispy Mysore Bonda (crispy lentil fritters), Mudurai Masala Dosa (chilli chutney and potato masala pancakes) and Shimla Mirch Shakarakanda (a sweet potato, spinach and chilli curry) proving this ain’t your average Anglo-Indian flock wall-papered job.
If you order one thing, make sure it’s the ‘ITR Lamb’ (£9.50). Scoop those tender little chunks up in a roti, toss it around in that glorious sauce and bung it in whole. My oh my, it’s a 10...
...where were we? Ah yes, here's how she looks (click 'Start' on the slideshow below):
We popped down for a chat with owners Srini and Suresh ahead of the launch:
Were you surprised by your popularity in Cheadle?
Sr: “Indian food in the UK has always been a curry, a bhuna, a kadhai, anything spicy. We offered something completely different to that, real Indian food, unfamiliar dishes that sparked an inquisitiveness in the public. That’s what brought people to Cheadle from miles around.
Su: "It didn't happen by chance, we've worked really hard to create that buzz."
So why First Street?
Su: “We looked at lots of different places: Hale, Wilmslow, Prestwich, Northern Quarter... but we felt our up-and-coming brand fit well within the new cultural hub developing here."
Sr: "One of our regulars is affiliated with First Street, so we met the right people at the right time. As with Cheadle, we put a lot of research into the area, we've looked hard at the demographic and believe we can support what First Street is trying to do."
Right, I'm a newcomer to Indian Tiffin Room, what should I order?
Su: “Well, different parts of India use spices differently, so we’d choose an item from each. You have to try our Panipuri, it’s the very heart of Indian street food, also the Gobi Manchurian, wok fried cauliflower, it’s an Indo-Chinese classic."
Sr: "We'd also recommend the chilli squid and chilli chicken, they’re proved very popular. Oh and the pancakes, a South Indian speciality."
And booze?
Sr: "India has always been a whisky-drinking country, but we've collaborated with Mike (Munezero) to create, we think, one of the most interesting cocktail menus in Manchester."
Su: "We've incorporated the spices we use in cooking to create different flavours in the cocktails. It's difficult to imagine some Indian spices in drinks but come in and try our Bombay Delight... you'll love it."
Indian Tiffin Room opens on First Street on Wednesday 24 February
