THERE is a difference between a curry and a good curry , according to my dining companion, and this was a good curry.

Walking into Madhu’s one rainy evening was a lovely surprise. With modern decoration, glass finishes and smiling staff, it was a delightful atmosphere to dine in.

I was pleased with my mocktail, a non-alcoholic version of a mojito, which was so sweet and refreshing, before starting what was to become a huge North Indian feast.

To start we had tandoori paneer tikka (£4.95), which is homemade Indian cottage cheese, cubed and marinated with yoghurt, ginger, garlic, red chillies and spices, and nyamah choma (£4.95), a traditional African Masai warrior dish adapted by Madhu’s using lamb ribs and marinated in chilli and lemon and chargrilled in a tandoor.

To make sure we tasted as much as possible, we also ordered the sheekh kebabs (£4.95) – juicy, mouth-watering kebabs, prepared from home minced lamb tenderloin, blended with fresh herbs and spices, cooked to perfection in the tandoor.

For my main course I had the king prawn masala (£11.95), an exotic preparation of king prawns, cooked in a rich masala gravy with a blend of spices, distinctly flavoured with carom seeds.

My companion had methi chicken (£8.95), which was chicken pieces simmered to succulence with fresh and dry fenugreek in a traditional Punjabi sauce. We thought we couldn’t pass up the opportunity of the traditional tarka dall (channa) on the side at £4.95; traditional yellow lentils flavoured with crisply fried garlic and onion, tempered with asafoetida and cumin.

Everything was absolutely delicious – rich in spice, culture and flavour.

I am not usually a big fan of meat, but on finding out it was halal I tucked in and really enjoyed the texture and the way everything had been marinated.

Paneer was something new to me and I found the consistency positively unique. The only way I could think to describe it was somewhere between halloumi and mozzarella.

Something sweet was definitely on the cards next, and seeing mango lassi on the menu was irresistible. The yoghurt drink, the thickest I’d ever tasted, was outstanding. Despite being extremely full, I could have drunk it all day.

I don’t have anything negative to say about my experience. The menu is extensive, prices are reasonable, the atmosphere is comfortable yet lively, our waiters Rohit and Nitish were warm and friendly and the manager, Hemant, was welcoming.

If you are looking for a good curry and an enjoyable evening, Madhu’s is just the place.