Kashmiri Aroma (Sheffield)

Restaurants are not built on reputation alone;
Steele Paulich put a much revered curry house to the test.

More salt than service, more snobbery than seasoning, we all know what makes a bad restaurant but what exactly makes a good restaurant?
It’s hard to pin down the mysterious X factor that makes for good dining but one thing’s for sure, Kashmiri Aroma definitely has it.
With a successful branch in Ilkley, North Yorkshire, already under its belt, its latest venture on Chesterfield Road looks set to be another winner.
Having been open for only a few months, this establishment is already pulling in the customers in their droves and with its combination of perfectly executed concepts, it’s easy to see why.
First things first: the interior. From the stylish and comfortable seating to the soft lighting, exposed brick walls and crisp white linen table cloths, nothing at Kashmiri Aroma lacks lustre.
Then of course, there is the quality of ingredients. The level of which was set high from the moment we tucked into a serving of popadoms and a selection of sauces and which was notable throughout the rest of the evening.
Attention to detail and presentation is incredibly important. It is no surprise that people often say that you dine as much with your eyes as with your mouth. And our special tandoori mix for two looked incredibly appetising when it reached our table in all its sizzling glory.
A combination of seekh kebab, lamb tikka, lamb chops, fish masala and Kandhari tikka and delicious spices was certainly a triumph. Even the side of salad, which was also beautifully presented, had a kick to it thanks to the powerful punch of the garnishing.
Arguably the biggest thing that can make or break a meal is service. A smiling, friendly and knowledgeable waiter who can make spot-on recommendations for food is priceless.
Though my companion and I managed to choose the starter, the mains proved to be a little trickier. Having never eaten in a Kashmiri restaurant before and aside from a few dishes I recognised from previous visits to curry houses, much of the menu was alien to me.
And as tempting it may be to order familiar dishes, it kills the point of trying somewhere new stone dead.
So, with a few wise words from our charming waiter, I settled on chicken afghani murgh (a popular dish with regulars I am told), while my dining partner happily tucked into the chicken mangalore.
Mine, a delicate amalgamation of garlic, ginger, chillies and coriander punctured with the zestiness of fresh lime, coupled with some seriously succulent, melt-in-your-mouth chicken made for divine goodness. Honestly, it was that good. Across the table, the verdict was equally as high.
As well as the usual side of rice, we ordered a chilli nan. Although not a feature on the menu, it is just as our waiters says, ‘anything is possible’. On that note, it’s worth mentioning that if you’re penchant to a lot of spice then you can order any of the dishes hotter.
Kashmiri Aroma is the very definition of a restaurant that makes dining out a valued and significant event, rather than a mere necessity.

Kashmiri Aroma
798 Chesterfield Road, Woodseats, Sheffield S8 0SF
Tel: 0114 258 7780
www.kashmiriaroma.com