The Balti Ghor Indian restaurant came about, I am told, because the Bano Phool Spice takeaway, which opened at the shopping precinct in Copmanthorpe, was so popular it was decided to open a restaurant too in the former Costcutter shop close by.

I can vouch for the takeaway as the meals we have had from there have been excellent, so we decided it was time to try out the restaurant.

From outside it looks a little garish with its red plasticky front, but inside it is fairly minimal with only pictures breaking up the large expanse of wall. Blinds or curtains over the huge former shop windows might help to create a more intimate feel. Sadly though, apart from one other couple and a woman dining alone, we were the only customers, but then Manchester United were on TV, as I was repeatedly told throughout the night.

The restaurant isn't licensed but serves soft drinks and water. You can bring your own alcohol so a trip across the way to the Co-op was essential to buy supplies. The waiter readily supplied glasses along with the menu.

For starters I ordered a royal mixed kebab (£2.80) which consisted of pieces of lamb tikka, chicken tikka and a spicy sheekh kebab - very tasty.

Chris chose mushroom pakora (£1.70) but was disappointed as he said the batter tasted dry and overcooked.

We chose naan bread and a couple of chapatis to accompany our main course. The waiter seemed baffled that we didn't want any rice but we know from experience that the more you order in Indian restaurants, the less you seem able to eat.

And my Chicken Jaflong (£4.50) was really too good to waste. This is a new dish to me - chunks of chicken cooked with fresh green chillies, ginger, peppers, tomatoes, lemons and onions. All the ingredients I like in a rich spicy sauce. The zesty flavour of lemon really came through, giving the dish an unusual, but very pleasant fresh tang.

Chris enjoyed his king prawn dansak (£6.50). It had plenty of prawns, which he felt were a little on the rubbery side, although the rich lentil-based sauce was deemed very good.

The naan was light and fluffy and the chapatis were, well, chapatis.

We had judged quantities perfectly and settled the bill which came to a more than reasonable £20.90 which also included four popadoms we had crunched our way through while waiting for our starters.

I rather like the idea of a takeaway: being able put on your baggy tracky bottoms and put your feet up in front of the telly - but it does mean there are two plates and forks to wash up afterwards.

So if you fancy a night away from the kitchen sink, or an evening out for a change, there is always the Balti Ghor.

Balti Ghor, Copmanthorpe Shopping Precinct, York. Tel: 01904 778585

Updated: 16:06 Friday, April 26, 2002