Decades ago the idea of dining out in Huddersfield meant a trip to the Elite Fish and Chip Shop (the sit-down section) in Westgate.

If you were very sophisticated – or wealthy – you went to the Yew Tree Restaurant on Halifax Road for Sunday lunch.

We were neither, and all we could look forward to were family celebrations every year or two at Fernleigh Restaurant, Holmbridge.

All of them served traditional and unadventurous British food.

These days Huddersfield’s diners are faced with a baffling – or mouthwatering, depending on your point of view – array of eateries and cusines.

We have curries coming out of our ears (not literally, thank goodness). We can order Chinese bird’s nest soup, Lebanese falafel, Spanish tapas, Thai tom yam talay, Mongolian barbecue, Italian pasta or pizza, Brazilian picanha, Iranian gheimeh badenjan or even good old bangers and mash, to name but a few options.

Enter the latest cuisine to tempt Huddersfield’s daredevil digesters; Georgian.

Lost Property opened its doors in John William Street, appropriately near St George’s Square, at the end of May. It will come as no surprise to learn that it’s named after the former Huddersfield Corporation lost property office, which Huddersfield born and bred Mike Holroyd – joint owner with wife Elena – remembers as a child.

The occasion marked the fulfilment of a long-standing dream for Elena to open her own restaurant serving the traditional food she had grown up with.

Elena is actually Armenian, but I checked on a map and it’s right next door to Georgia, and the food is regional. The recipes are those her mother, grandmother and great aunt cooked for her as a child.

Restaurant review: Lost Property, John William Street, Huddersfield. proprietors Mile and Elena Holroyd.

Georgia lies between the Black Sea and the Caucasus Mountains to the south of Russia, and the regional cuisine is the result of hot summers and centuries of trading, with influences from the Middle East, Europe and the surrounding Western Asia countries.

Aubergines and walnuts feature prominently on Georgian menus, much of the meat is marinaded in herbs and spices particular to the area, although there is plenty for vegetarians to savour too, as vegetables and peppers are widely used.

Lost Property was quiet when three of us dined there last Thursday. The first thing we noticed was the impressive interior, quite unexpected given the unremarkable exterior.

Accountant Mike has enlisted the help of talented designer clients to create a welcoming interior under a huge original ceiling centrepiece with interesting features.

Colours are warm with a Mediterranean feel. Exposed brickwork, foliage, wooden-framed mirrors and a mural of a steep cobbled street under a stucco arch all combine to create a sunny atmosphere inside the centuries-old Yorkshire exterior.

The tiled floor and wooden tables, chairs and shutters added a rustic element. And I particularly liked the blinds which, when closed, created a further street scene.

We were disappointed not to see any of Georgia’s famous wines on the list, so ordered a couple of beers and a bottle of sauvignon blanc at £16.

For starters we ordered hitherto unknown dishes, starting with Tony’s suluguni, or cubes of Georgian cheese fried in olive oil served with salad leaves and grapes and topped with crushed walnuts.

Restaurant review: Lost Property, John William Street, Huddersfield.

Mich and I had chicken satsivi, which had a similar consistency to egg mayonnaise, with small, tender chicken morsels in a garlic and walnut sauce. It was delicately flavoured with herbs we couldn’t quite name.

My chargrilled and marinaded tiger prawns (£13) again showed a light hand in the kitchen, with a red pepper sauce drizzled on the side. Mich’s pork shashlik was nicely cooked and Tony’s chanakhi, chunks of marinaded lamb in a clay pot (£14), was so tender it fell off the fork.

All were accompanied with Armenian bread, delicious golden potatoes, a roasted pepper salad. I thought that red peppers with the main courses as well as the starters were surplus to requirements.

Portions were large – even big enough for ex-rugby player Tony (who devoured half of Birkby’s Desi Buffet on a previous review). Mike and Elena were friendly and the atmosphere was laid-back. Whether Elena’s subtle version of the Georgian cuisine captures the hearts and stomachs of Huddersfield’s diners remains to be seen.

A word of warning for sweet-toothed diners: no desserts have found their way to Lost Property, but after two generous courses, we had no complaints.

64-66 John William St, Huddersfield, HD1 1EH

Tel: 07407 800200

Website: www.lostpropertyrestaurant.co.uk

Opening hours: (kitchen)

Wednesday to Saturday 5.30pm to 9.30pm

Children: Welcome

Disabled access: Yes, ring first

The bill: £25.60 per head including drinks

Would you go back? Yes, probably