Food profile - Scene Indian Street Kitchen, Manchester

PUBLISHED: 00:00 08 January 2016

Samosa Chaat

Archant

Situated in Spinningfields, Scene Indian Street Kitchen should be a ‘must do’ for anybody who loves a bit of spice in their life.

Scene Indian Kitchen: photos by Carl Sukonik

Owned by brothers Saqib & Asif Ali, both trained chefs, the restaurant is far from ‘just another curry house.’ With a menu inspired by their own travels around the Indian sub-continent, you can find and enjoy dishes there that you will never have heard of – but will most definitely go back for.

Our starters were simply fabulous; Lamb Tikka (£5.95), soft, aromatic and infinitely moreish; Chicken Kandhari Tikka (£4.95), succulent thighs marinated with spices and saffron and Samosa Chaat, (6.95). I’m still not entirely sure what Chaat is, but this was a ball of yumminess, made from potatoes and peas, set into a fine pastry bowl filled with chickpeas in a spicy sauce, topped with yoghurt, mint and tamarind chutney. Oh my – it was hot (for me, my husband didn’t flicker, but I needed an extra bowl of yoghurt!) but so filled with delicious flavours I couldn’t stop eating it and will definitely have it again. And the extra yoghurt.

Lamb Tikka

My husband chose Chicken Lababdar (£10.95) as his main course; unlike anything we’ve ever tried before; packed with flavour but without the burn of chilli, it was earthy and fresh and rich and tangy all at once. My Chicken Makhani (£11.95) was sheer delight; a smokiness provided by the traditionally-made chicken Tikka was balanced beautifully by the sweetness of sultanas and pineapple and all was wrapped in a buttery, rich sauce cut with fresh yoghurt. We were recommended to try the Laccha Paratha (£2.95) with this and what a recommendation. This exotic layered bread was the perfect texture and taste to support, not overwhelm, our dishes; earthy and buttery and dreamily good; I’d go back for this alone.

I can see Scene becoming rather a weekend favourite; the food is great, the service is wonderful, the surroundings are elegant and the prices are excellent. What’s not to love?

Leftbank, Irwell Square, Manchester, M3 3AN scenedining.com