Spice Merchant, Cardiff Bay

IF you fancy a contemporary twist to your curry - both in flavour and surroundings - look no further than this relatively new restaurant.

Spice Merchant was bustling but not uncomfortably busy when we visited on a Friday evening, and we were greeted at the door by an elderly gentleman in traditional Indian regalia (he must have been freezing!)

Once inside we were ushered to a cosy seating area, subtly screened off from diners, to wait (briefly) for our table.

Once seated my partner and I shared poppadums with a selection of four pickles (£4) - which looked and tasted home-made - while we got to grips with the extensive menu.

My partner started with the kebab special (£3.50), consisting of lamb and chicken tikka and onion bhajee, while I chose pepper lamb (£3.50), a grilled whole green pepper stuffed with extra spicy garlic lamb tikka. Both were extremely tender and flavourful.

For the main course I chose chicken makhani (£8.95), with mushroom pilau rice (£2.50) while my partner was tempted by chicken chasni, with almond, coconut, cream and sugar (£8.95), with vegetable pilau rice (£2.50) and we shared a massalla nan (£2.20).

The quality of the food couldn't be faulted but was marred by the fact that it had gone cold by the time we dipped in for seconds, especially since we were sat in a slightly draughty spot. Surely table burners wouldn't break the bank.

And talking of breaking the bank, order a jug of table water rather than mineral water - a small bottle set us back a whopping £3.95.

We finished with two coffees and the bill, with two beers, came to £51.15. The service was courteous and unobtrusive.

Claire Powell