WE may all be hoping for some hot weather at the moment – but at Aroma Spice you can experience an Indian summer any night of the week.

AROMA SPICE INDIAN CUISINE

98 Fleet Road, NW3

Tel: 020 7267 0444

WE may all be hoping for some hot weather at the moment - but at Aroma Spice you can experience an Indian summer any night of the week.

We were greeted by hospitable staff who offered us a choice of light poppadoms followed by an array of four of the chef's specialities.

We skipped the host of starter dishes to delve right into the mains, which were freshly prepared in a clay oven and served "in the pot".

Restaurant owner Murshed Bakth - who says he and his staff are "driven by providing a distinction in taste and service to customers" - was especially passionate about talking about his menu, revealing that the curious pink colour in his mint sauce comes from a hint of radish.

One of the restaurant's most popular dishes is the shimla mirch (£3.95) but we were preoccupied with the steaming hot tray which was being whisked towards us with a very appealing platter of five different dishes.

I tried the coconut rice coupled with pilau rice and topped with butter murgh (£7.25) - a brilliant chicken dish marinated with ginger, garlic and yoghurt.

My friend was intrigued by the bagari gusth (£7.25), and said the slightly spicy lamb sauce complemented the naan bread exceedingly well.

We also enjoyed the tawa specials. Tawa dishes are exclusive to Aroma Spice, so I won't give too much away. However, we were told that it's a flat pan dish cooked with onion, green pepper, spices and herbs. Simply put, it's delicious and should be tried by all food enthusiasts. Each dish is freshly made to order - and the gosht kata masala was no exception, served with a seasoned cooked tomato which blended well with the rice dish.

A vast range of wines and soft drinks matches an extensive menu, and we washed it all down with a bottle of red wine (£15.95).

The staff were polite and attentive to a fault which makes for an enjoyable experience and the prices are reasonable, too. - JERRY LOGO

* Disabled Access: Yes

* Children Allowed: Yes

* Main courses: £9-£14.20.

* Bottle of wine: £8.90 to £24.95