A LUXURY NEW DINING EXPERIENCE FOR SHEFFIELD
Slide into a sleek circular booth or candle-lit table and prepare to be wined and dined in style…
Aligarh has just opened its doors in Crosspool, offering a mouth-watering menu of traditional and modern delights straight from the sub-continent.
Formally the location of Artisan Restaurant – which had rave reviews in the town before its closure – we knew Aligarh was under pressure to impress.
The décor has been re-vamped but the intimate, romantic ambience remains with low level lighting and luxurious furnishings.
We visited on a Wednesday evening and the restaurant was surprisingly full – our expectations grew seeing such demand from customers just a few weeks after opening to the public.
After receiving a warm welcome from our waiter, we ordered our drinks and tucked in to the poppadum’s and pickle tray while we browsed the menu.
The Tikka King Prawns caught our eye on the starters menu, as well as the Onion Bhaji – I’m confident you can always judge the talents of an Indian chef solely on the taste and texture of their bhajis – an Indian favourite for most.
The starters arrived promptly – the three large Tikka King Prawns were marinated with yogurt, vinegar, special herbs, then grilled over charcoal and served with a Hyderabadi side sauce. Delicious! The Onion Bahji’s didn’t disappoint either – two circular onion rings dipped into spicy batter and deep fried until golden then served with a fresh fruity side salad.
For main course we opted for the Shahi Murgh Tandoori and Meat Hyderabadi. The Tandoori consisted of chicken marinated in a spice yogurt and cooked on charcoal. It’s then cooked with tomatoes, onions, green chilli, garlic, coriander, ginger and peppers and arrives at the table served on a sizzling plate, on a bed of onions with a side Hyderabi sauce.
You’ll find the Meat Hyderabi dish on the chef special’s menu – we opted for chicken cooked with tangy spices, green coriander, fresh cream, yogurt, tomatoes, garlic and ginger in bay leaf juices, cardamom and cloves. This dish is full of distinctive flavours.
Collecting our clean plates, the waiter informs us Aligarh uses only the highest quality and freshest ingredients which are blended seamlessly to create a cocktail of different flavours.
We were offered dessert – but unfortunately had no room to fit in a tempting treat or coffee. Next time! We’re sure to be back again soon – the food is rich in taste and full of flavour coupled with great service in an elegant setting at an affordable price.
There are plans to move upstairs in the near future too. The family run business plan to use the first floor space as a private function room and cooking school. Keep a watch in Your Sheffield News for more details coming soon.
Aligarh Restaurant, 32-34 Sandygate Road, Crosspool, Sheffield, S10 5RY // Call: 0114 266 6096 // info@aligarh.co.uk
Opening times: Mon to Thurs: 5:30pm – 10:30pm / Fri and Sat: 5:30pm – 11:00pm / Sunday: 4:30pm – 10:00pm
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