There can’t be many restaurants which have to turn away customers.

In these straitened times eateries are more likely to be dragging passers-by off the street.

But not Discovery Bay, Huddersfield’s renowned Caribbean restaurant.

If your name’s not down, you’re not coming in. Or something like that.

Many restaurants say it’s best to book to give the impression they are busy and popular.

When Discovery Bay recommends you book they mean it.

True, the restaurant – tucked away in a town centre back street – is small but even so you wouldn’t expect it to be fully booked.

We were one of the lucky ones this week when we Tweeted a reservation for Tuesday teatime.

It was a last-minute call to visit Discovery Bay but I knew we couldn’t risk just turning up.

While we were there two other parties walked in expecting to eat and the staff, apologetically, had to send them away.

That really says it all about this super little restaurant.

Run by larger-than-life Huddersfield lad-done-good Barrington Douglas and business partner Richard Dennis, Discovery Bay is the realisation of Barrington’s lifetime ambition to open his own restaurant.

In 2006 Barrington opened the doors and has been serving up his mum’s traditional Caribbean recipes since then.

It’s not been easy navigating one of the worst recessions in living memory and emerging out the other side but Discovery Bay has stood the test of challenging times.

Discovery Bay is a great place for a special night out but my companion Sian and I decided to try out the teatime specials (5pm-6.30pm), two courses for £10.95 or three courses for £13.95.

The choice is more limited, as you would expect, but the portions are generous and the value-for-money excellent.

Discovery Bay, caribbean restaurant, Wood Street, Huddersfield.

The subdued lighting, upbeat music and a young, friendly and attentive staff make for a relaxed and enjoyable atmosphere.

Barrington has resisted the temptation to cram his tables so that diners sit on top of each other.

Discovery Bay is a cool place to see and be seen but there is nothing pretentious about it.

If you like spicy food and want a change from an Indian, this is where you should be heading.

Discovery Bay’s signature is its rich sauces and jerk seasoning and you want to take time to savour the flavours.

Though tempted for a moment by the main menu we decided to stick with the teatime special.

My starter was the delicious mango mushrooms, succulent pieces of mango and juicy slices of mushroom simmered with sweet peppers, red onions, coconut milk and coriander. The sauce, thickened with mango chutney, was sweet but with a kick.

I tackled it with a knife and fork to the waitress’s surprise. “Most people use a spoon,” she said. Indeed. You don’t want to leave a scrap of the sauce behind.

Sian chose the saltfish fritters, the Jamaican national dish, salted cod fried until crisp and golden and served with salad and pineapple salsa. It was light and tasty and a perfect starter.

The mains choice has six dishes – coconut cream chicken, curried chicken, jerk chicken, rum steak, curried goat and vegetable curry.

My choice was the rum steak, marinated meat cooked in its own juices with just a touch of dark rum. The steak was tender and well cooked and the sauce thick and rich.

Sian had the jerk chicken, another Caribbean special, with Discovery Bay’s own jerk sauce. It looked like half a chicken to me and the sauce hits you in the back of the throat. In a good way.

All mains are served with rice or rice and peas. I loved the rice. It’s very different to your usual boiled rice. Quite why I don’t know. I’ll have to ask on my next visit.

We were also tempted into sharing a couple of fried dumplings. Great for mopping up the sauce.

Really we shouldn’t have had the desserts. We were both nicely full. But, you know...

I’ve heard people rave about Barrington’s homemade ginger cake but we both wanted the ginger and lime zest cheesecake.

We could have shared one, of course. But we didn’t. A portion each, please.

The ‘cheesy’ bit was zingy and refreshing and the base moist and moreish.

Our bellies were bursting by the end but no regrets!

The only thing I’d have done differently was leave the car at home and order a jug of rum punch and not the non-alcoholic fruit variety that we enjoyed nonetheless.

It seemed indulgent to have such a big meal midweek but at these prices it won’t break the bank. What might go bust, however, is your belt. I had to let mine out a notch. You have been warned. PS. Don’t forget to book.

12 Wood Street, Huddersfield, HD1 1DG

Tel: 01484 300211

Website: www.discoverybayuk.com

Opening hours: Tuesday to Saturday 5pm-11pm. Sunday and Monday closed

Children: Yes

Disabled access: Yes

The bill: £42.20 including drinks and coffee

Would you go back? Yes please.

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