Food: Review- Gurkha One, Mansfield Road, Nottingham

The food at Gurkha One is faultless but it’s not Sat Bains. There are though probably many reasons why they are at number one. Yes the food is great, but the hospitality is also second to none. Micheala & Jamil greet you as friends and you leave as friends.

The relatively new family run restaurant (it was opened in October 2014) is small and located to the front of the Paramount Hotel, the owners rent it from the hotel owners and it’s used by guests in the morning for breakfast, that said the decor and accessories in the gently lit restaurant are in keeping with an Indian Restaurant. Maybe a bit more red and gold could be used and personally I’d have blinds, something at an angle that makes you forget your facing Lidl. The fact that it’s deliberately intimate works to its advantage in that they can cope admirably with the covers and it keeps the food fresh and the atmosphere relaxed. Similarly with their delivery option, the restaurant only delivers within a relatively small area to maintain the service and ensure your food reaches you piping hot.

We order a couple of Nepalese beer, Makara which we are told compliments the spices in the dishes though on closer inspection is sadly brewed in the UK, still it’s a change from the norm.

We began with a couple of Poppadums and pickle tray. Mint yoghurt, mango and onion/pepper mix £2.50 before moving onto the starters.

We tried the Vegetable Momo £3.95 – lovely soft steamed dumplings packed with flavour- A traditional Nepalese delicacy served with tamarind sauce.  Tibetan style with Nepali spices, Momo are one of the most popular foods in Nepal.

We also tried the Chicken Sekuwa – a dish actually from the main course list, the Menu offers a good selection of dishes and the restaurant will happily make any of the main dishes into starters or visa versa but as we were going to try the Chicken Tikka, Jamil suggested the Chicken Sekuwa £2.50 as a different alternative. Fresh chicken marinated in a blend of Himalayan Herbs and spices cooked in the tandoor. Served with stir fried onions and peppers

For the Main Course we tried the Malabar Fish £9.95. Soft flaking fillet of white fish cooked and wonderfully flavoured with mustard seeds, curry leaves, chilli and coconut milk in Nepalese spices.

We also tried the Tandoori Salmon £12.95, beautifully marinated in a mustard paste, ginger, garlic, fill leaves and yoghurt. Served with a fresh mixed salad. We also had generous portions of Pilau Rice £1.95 and Boiled Rice £1.95.

We interestingly rounded the evening off with a couple of Flaming sambuccas with coffee beans, courtesy of Michaela and Jamil.

All in all it was very reasonable for a couple of beautifully cooked and presented courses. Does it warrant a five star review?

 The restaurant does deserve to do well. Their fresh approach to Nepalese cooking is admirable, offering unique dishes which they will encourage you to try and you definitely should. The staff are always happy to talk through the style of the fish and ingredients.  Whilst the excellent menu (which they update regularly) offers your standard Indian fare, the talented kitchen team led by Arjun, bring a wealth of experience to the dishes, which are created using quality ingredients and a variety of Nepalese spices and also draws influence from Chinese cuisine. Nepals cultural and geographic diversity provides ample options for a variety of cuisines based on ethnicity and on soil and climate, though much of the cuisine is a variation on Asian themes.

Location can work when you start out but if you are booking only regulars then reviews can wane, at the moment the top billing is drawing in the customers. A booking came in from somebody visiting from Australia whilst we were there proving what a powerful tool Trip Advisor can be. Many like me are flocking in to see what the fuss is about, though it’s location could also be its downfall. Put it in the city centre and it could certainly hold its own against the big boys but not everyone will want to go to the outskirts of the city (5 minutes away) regularly though on the other hand it works if you want something away from the hustle and bustle of the city centre.

By Tanya Raybould