The new restaurant in Newland Avenue that takes curry to another level

I had a delightful pick-me-up earlier this week when I ate at a truly impressive restaurant that sent me to food heaven.

Curryish Tandoori & Grill, based in 191 Newland Avenue, opened on May 21. This new restaurant in Hull has a menu of tandoori and grilled dishes, such as meats and paneer, as well as Indian street food and authentic curries.

The menu alone is a feast for the eyes. I was pleased to see options you can rarely find in the UK and it took me a long time to decide on what I’d treat myself with.

First up, I went for a starter of Jhal Muri: crispy puffed rice tossed with onions, tomatoes, chillies, peanuts, chanachur, mustard oil, chaat masala and lime. It was tangy with a refreshingly sharp kick from the mustard and raw onion and the texture was very more-ish.

This was followed by the arrival of the Amritsari fish pakora. This was extraordinary and so tender, it melted in the mouth. It came with a homemade red sauce that was a harmonious blend of spicy, sour and sweet.

For a main, I had a vegetable biryani. It was fragrant with toasted spices, including delicious saffron, and every mouthful was exquisite. I was allowed to choose the heat of the curry I had on the side and went for Madras intensity – it was perfect.

I also had a dhal which is a stew of lentils. I never expected to wax so lyrical about dhal, but it was one of the creamiest, most aromatic dishes I have ever eaten.

The dhal was phenomenal in combination with the homemade garlic nan, which was fresh out of the oven, fluffy, and had flawless elasticity. It was pure heaven to tear chunks off and dip in the ambrosian sauces – I was really spoiled for choice.

My friend commented the food was so excellent, it would be impossible to pick out a standout dish. Afterwards, I spoke with the owner, Dr Mamoon Bashir, who said he scoured the country for the most talented chefs and recruited them from Leeds and Manchester.

It has definitely paid off – this is hands-down the nicest food I have eaten outside of India, which I used to visit frequently as a child. To celebrate its opening, Curryish is offering free wine to every customer until June 7.

For lovers of authentic curries, it is absolutely worth heading down to try it for yourself.