THE Raj Tandoori in Norton is an absolute favourite for takeaways. Once you've phoned in your order, the staff seem to have an uncanny knack for just getting your food ready as you pull up outside to collect. This time though, we decided to eat in the restaurant and let someone else do the washing up for a change.

As we arrived one Sunday night we spotted a customer heading home with his meal, and another person ordering when we got inside.

The smells as we walked through the door were fantastic and our mouths seemed to be watering before we'd even sat down.

The restaurant was very quiet - just one other table was occupied while we were there - but it was reassuring to spot plenty of people calling in to collect their food.

After a blustery day at the coast we were starving, so the prompt arrival of poppadoms to go with our drinks was a welcome sight.

The lime pickle was very tasty although a bit hot for me. Luckily a fresh-tasting yoghurt and mint side order came too.

We took absolutely ages to order our food simply because we couldn't make up our minds - it all sounded so delicious.

As we spent time dithering on what to have it was reassuring to feel as though the staff weren't hurrying us along. Although there were few customers eating in, waiters kept their distance without making themselves too scarce.

Just as I'd finally decided to go for a king prawn patia, the waiter appeared and took our order.

The pair of us decided to order some starters to share, followed by the patia dish (£6.20) for me and a tandoori chicken kurchaan (£6.50) for my dining partner Matt.

We ordered pilau rice (£1.50) and a special naan (£1.50) as side dishes to share.

While we finished off the poppadoms we had a chance to watch the world go by outside. It wasn't very busy - most of the people walking along the street at 9pm on a Sunday evening seemed to be heading into or out of the Raj to collect their takeaways.

It didn't take long for the starters to arrive, and when they did there was almost a fight. The lamb kebab was delicious and each of us could happily have polished it off, but fair's fair and we split it in two. The vegetable samosa was tasty and I'm sure the onion bhaji would have been about as good - if it had been cooked just a tiny bit longer. As it was, the inside tasted a little bit too much of batter. Just not quite enough oven.

We heard the main meals arriving long before our waiter brought them across. The chicken kurchaan was sizzling loudly in a hot dish and got a ten-star rating from my partner for its succulent pieces of chicken and hot spices.

My patia was a saucy, spicy and tomatoey dish, laced with coconut and generous with the prawns. It was perfect to dip naan bread in, and the pilau rice was wolfed down by Matt who seemed to enthuse about how special the chef's special was with every mouthful.

By the end of the main course we were absolutely stuffed and had to miss out on the Indian sweets on offer. I finished off with a glass of lassi, a sweet yoghurty drink which seemed like a dessert in itself.

A trip to the toilets proved a disappointment - they are up a steep flight of stairs and would challenge the less agile, never mind anyone in a wheelchair.

With a total bill of £27.15 we were very impressed. Excellent value and after we'd had After Eight mints with the bill, we could safely leave the washing up to someone else.

Raj Tandoori, 21 Church Street, Norton. Tel: 01653 697337

Liz and Matt visited the Raj Tandoori on March 2

Updated: 09:52 Saturday, April 05, 2003