WE’RE blessed with an excellent Indian restaurant within walking distance so it takes something special to tempt us further afield.
But, on the strength of some excellent reports, our spirit of adventure took us to the wilds of the windswept Flockton Moor and the welcoming sight of the Cinnamon Lounge, in the former Dartmouth Arms.
Car parking is easy, just across the road, and owner Sam Miah, with more than 20 years’ experience working and running Indian restaurants, has the front of house greeting off to a fine art.
He opened the place just over a year ago after spotting the To Let signs while taking teenage daughter Tanya to Emley Moor TV mast on a school project. It was also Tanya who chose the name for dad’s new venture.
The family link goes further. Sam’s brother Anwar is head chef while a third brother is among the waiters.
First impressions? Sam and family (his wife has the eye for interior design) have created a classy downstairs eating area for 55, more contemporary chic than Bombay Palace, with understated decor of creams and browns, tables beautifully presented with crisp linen and serviettes and a single rose on every table.
Passing up the extensive wine list we opted for a pint of Kingfisher (£2.95) and a J20 (£2.50) and settled at our table for two to choose from a menu we’d already had a sneak preview of on the excellent website.
Sam and co are eager to please and a starter’s order of garlic mushrooms (£2.75) had the waiter rushing back to ask if we liked them served creamy or the more authentic Asian style with onions, spices and fresh coriander. An easy choice. Cream is OK on strawberries. Mushrooms demand spices and the dish as served was perfect, as were the vegetable samosas (£2.75), triangles of flavour served with onion, tomatoes, cucumber, lemon and lettuce.
Mint yoghurt topped an impressive opening act.
Already it was becoming clear how the Cinnamon Lounge is building a loyal following. There’s a touch of celebrity about it too as cricketer and now Strictly Come Dancing star Darren Gough is among the regulars (the menu gives the chance to eat like Goughie, listing his top choice – mixed platter and special jalfrezi).
I fell out with cricket the day I captained a school house team that was bowled out for seven, so stuck with our own choice.
Chicken Karahi (£6.95) is charcoal grilled chicken with onions, capsicum, garlic, ginger and yet more fresh coriander. The mixture of flavours was explosive.
Hashnaji lamb is a chilli fan’s delight. Selected from the section of the menu headed Traditional and Homestyle Specialities it’s described as the kind of dish you would eat as a guest in an Asian family’s home. It’s cooked with green chillies and bullet chillies (a second pint of Kingfisher helps cool the palate) with capsicum, spring onions, garlic, ginger and fresh spinach.
Add a generous portion of piquant lemon rice (£2.30) and mushroom pilau (£2.30) plus a garlic naan (£2.50) and we had a feast to satisfy the largest of appetites. Next time just one portion of rice will be enough.
Even in the middle (or it this just the start?) of our financial woes there was a big enough crowd to give the place some atmosphere and Sam will soon be opening upstairs to increase capacity to 80 plus.
He’s confident he’s got the right place and the right menu (take-away prices are 10% less then those in the restaurant). His confidence looks well-founded.
Well worth the drive to the windswept spot. We shall return.
Venue Cinnamon Lounge, Paul Lane, Flockton Moor.
Tel 01924 840888/01924 840898
Website www.thecinnamonlounge.co.uk
Opening hours Seven days a week, Mon-Sat 5-11pm, Sunday 3pm-10.30pm.
Children Welcome
Disabled access Yes and adapted toilets.
The bill £26.30 (not including drinks).
