We enjoyed a veritable Indian
INDIAN restaurants have moved with the times and the days of fishing your dinner out of a swamp of curry sauce are long gone.
Nowadays I expect a fresh and fragrant meal where I can see the ingredients. And that is exactly what was served on my visit to the New New Bengal.
The New Bengal restaurant, as it was called, first opened on Gosforth High Street over 40 years ago, but a fire in the building forced its closure and it reopened with a new look, a new menu, and a new New in its name, at the end of 2016.
WHAT IS IT LIKE INSIDE?
The restaurant’s plate glass windows overlook the busy Salter’s Road junction, and it sits next to the traffic lights, so must be a familiar sight to many Newcastle motorists.
Inside, there is banquette seating either side of the very brightly lit seating area, with comfy white leatheretteand-wood chairs in between. The walls are painted a bold blue and a stainless steel staircase dominates the centre, leading to an area of extra seating. 232 High Street, Gosforth, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE3 1HH.
Tel: 0191 284 1295. Website: newnewbengal.com Open daily from 5pm to 11.30pm.
AND THE FOOD?
My husband and I had headed out late and were ravenous – leading to some over-ordering and a doggy bag on departure – so after a friendly welcome, we asked for beers, poppadums and pickles to start.
The poppadums were huge, and six generous helpings of chutneys and sauces arrived, with a quick and helpful description of each – mango, lime, chopped chili, raita, onion and sweet chili. I chose a Cobra lager and my husband a bottle of Wylam Brewery’s hoppy Jakehead IPA.
We tucked in while deciding on our