Miah's Indian Restaurant

There is nothing better than going for a night out to enjoy some top quality Indian cuisine which has of course become part of the popular British dining out culture. Miah’s restaurant, situated on Torquay’s picturesque harbour side was the venue for this restaurant review.

Mukta Miah opened the restaurant in December 2006. The décor is sophisticated and tasteful with the eye being drawn to beautiful Indian tapestries and twinkling chandeliers. The views over Torquay harbour from upstairs are breathtaking, so the scene was set for a wonderful Indian experience. The moment you walk through the door, you are greeted with a warm smile from Miah and his attentive staff, a good start to any night out. There were several large parties booked, a good sign of the growing popularity with all age groups.

Drinks were ordered, a lovely well chilled bottle of Chablis, and chilled still water. We always like to start with a few popadoms, spicy ones are our preference, and these of course come with the usual tray of accompaniments, all freshly prepared. Whilst relaxing and enjoying our freshly cooked and crispy popadoms, we studied the extensive menu, with dishes from every region of India. There is something for every palette here, from mild dishes through spicy and aromatic and also to dishes that could intensely arouse your taste buds. Our preference is for medium hot, aromatic and spicy dishes as we like to enjoy the fragrant qualities of the cuisine.

For our appetisers Dave choose the Onion Bhajees - when they arrived, their presentation made them almost an artwork - a true feast for the eyes as well as the tongue, and they were delightfully crisp and fresh. I decided to try a dish I had never tried before, Chicken Tikka Bhaza, this came sizzling to the table, somehow that wonderful noise as the food approaches adds to the overall experience, and it was bursting with flavour and once again, extremely well presented.

Onto our main course - Dave went for a Chef’s special of Garlic Chicken Shagorona which was a garlic-fest, truly delicious, and I chose a Balti Chicken Pathia. Balti dishes originate from the northern frontiers of Kashmir, they are rich, aromatic but medium with a spicy taste. We decided to share a pilau rice and a peshwari nan and thought it would be nice to try an aubergine side dish.

The peshwari nan was delicious, beautifully cooked with a delightful intricate, sweet coconut flavour. This alone was enough to tantalise the taste buds and send them into orbit. We tried the aubergine side dish, which was freshly cooked, with a hint of garlic, again very well prepared and delicately spiced. Miah’s has a range of sumptuous ice cream desserts to choose from but to suit everyone’s sweet desire. We finished the meal with coffee and a zambucca or two… well it had to be done..!

Another fantastic part of the authentic Indian experience is of course the hot towels and juicy orange segments and a great way to freshen up. 

In conclusion Miah’s is a top restaurant to sample contemporary Indian cuisine at its very best, they have managed to capture traditional Indian hospitality and embrace a modern approach to Indian cooking and presentation style.

Along with the lights and the vibrant atmosphere of the harbourside – what a great place to visit! For booking info please call 01803 292851 or have a look at the website www.miahsindianrestaurant.com