To a Melthamer like me, the 1960s building in the centre of the village is still usually referred to as the old Lodges supermarket.
In recent years however the frontage of this building has been much improved and run as a restaurant, but in the last few weeks, a new name has arrived in town with the opening of The Pink Elephant Persian Lounge.
Work has been on-going for a few weeks to transform the building and give it a Pink Elephant makeover, complete with new signage and interior changes.
With a Pink Elephant restaurant already established in nearby Honley, I thought it would be interesting to see how the new arrival in Meltham was faring.
It seemed I wasn’t alone as the new restaurant was buzzing and full of people trying the Indo-Persian cuisine. Not bad for a Tuesday night!
Walking in, I noticed a few local faces so obviously others in Meltham had the same idea as me, to try the new kid in town.
There was another reason for our visit. We were also celebrating the news that my son Paul’s girlfriend Hannah has just achieved a first class honours degree following her three years at Coventry University.
So it was cheers all round as we raised a glass to her success – already achieved – and in the future with her new job.
Looking at the menu, there’s certainly something to suit everyone and all the choices are marked with a star to denote the heat of the dish, from mild to medium, hot to mind-blowing.
Needless to say I had my eye firmly on the ‘heat’ indicators as I’m definitely a mild to medium girl.
After tucking in to the pickle tray and poppadoms, we opted for the mixed platter starter so we could all try a few different tastes.
The platter included Persian chicken, lamb tikka and Kobeda seekh kebab which all appeared on a hot sizzler and disappeared equally quickly.
Moving onto the main event Paul and Hannah ordered from the specialities section of the menu while I was tempted by the veggie section and chose a roast Bombay aloo balti, potatoes cooked in balti masala, garlic puree and a caramelised onion and pimento sauce.
Combined with lemon rice and a sweet coconut Peshwari naan bread, it was delicious, just hot enough and filling and flavoursome.
Paul and Hannah chose the lamb dhabba tajeen, inspired by Moroccan style cooking and the nawabi tava, a mogul influenced dish.
The dhabba tajeen is a slow cooked dish combining onions, tomatoes, garlic, ginger, coriander pesto and lime juice with a mix of spices added at intervals.
Fragrant and spicy, it also went well with the choice of lemon rice and we all remarked that the soft and fluffy naan breads were among the nicest we had ever had.
I would even go so far as to say that the Peshwari naan breads were the best I had ever tasted. Light and fluffy with a slightly crisp edge, they really added to the meal and were delicious.
Our accompaniments were spot on with the delicately flavoured rice teaming perfectly with our main course choices.
Hannah’s choice was an Indo-Persian fusion take on a surf ‘n’ turf dish, combining chicken, lamb and grilled Tiger prawns all together in a rich pesto of tomato and coriander.
Fennel and garlic is then added before all the ingredients are combined and flared in a wok.
She certainly enjoyed it, and like all of us, polished off her serving.
The Pink Elephant Persian Lounge also offers a takeaway service (collection only) and is already proving a popular addition to the village.
The sister restaurant in Honley is very involved with village events and the local community, regularly hosting charity events and involved with local sports teams.
Let’s hope the new Meltham restaurant is equally successful and quickly becomes part of the local community.
Pink Elephant Persian Lounge
4, Holmfirth Road, Meltham, Huddersfield
Telephone: 01484 854440
Website: The Honley
restaurant website is www.pinkelephantrestaurant.co.uk
Opening times: Sunday to Thursday 5pm to 11pm and Friday and Saturday 5pm to 11.30pm.
Children: Yes, welcome.
Disabled: Yes, there is a ramp at the front entrance and the restaurant is all on one level.
The bill: £52.70
Would you go back? Yes, it’s very handy for me.
