The art of food

This page is all about the fine food and dining experiences offered by Leicester, a city which provides menus from all over the world and notably, the Indian sub continent.

Swatlands Restaurant

Artsin visits Swatlands of Oadby to see what is on offer.

Indian Restaurants are not what they used to be and Swatlands is no exception. No more the flock wall paper and cane chairs painted in gold. The ambience here is smart, uncluttered and contemporary. The tables were clean; they did not have tablecloths but they did have nicely arranged, crisp white cotton napkins. A big plus was pedestal tables; you don't have the worry about getting your legs tangled up in awkward table legs.

The Magnolia walls were decorated with embroidered fabric panels. The decor was restrained, no-nonsense and calming. Overall the room had a relaxing ambience, suggested by the tasteful mix of beige and soft browns. With its ceiling lights and night light candles on the tables, the room was restfully lit.

The crockery was simple - plain, white dishes. The cutlery was practical rather than elegant although the knives took a bit of getting used to. Not your run of the mill cutting utensils, these rather odd looking instruments were a bit out of the ordinary.

The service was attentive and polite. The smartly dressed waiters were at pains to ensure that all guests were well looked after and did not have to wait if you wanted something. A good sign: the waiter took my jacket so I didn't have to hang it over the back of my chair. If I had one disappointment about the restaurant it was that, when I arrived, Muzak was being played in the background (what I call 'lift music'.)

The unstylish, boring songs didn't go down well with me. I was pleased therefore when the tape changed and some real Indian music came out of the speakers. I think, if you are going out for an Indian meal you want the full experience and some appropriate music in the background adds to the feel of the evening.

The menu offers a range of starters, including vegetarian options. Some items were labeled 'Healthier Options', which is good if you concerned about what you eat. I was very pleased that draught Kingfisher lager was available, my choice for a cool, refreshing accompaniment to an Indian meal. The Wine List offered a reasonable choice for most diners. Even Champagne was available for those really wanting to celebrate. The labels reflected a variety of origins and the house wine was very agreeable. The wine waiter asked me to try a sample of the house white. It was good, cool, with a slight tingle and a characteristic smoky flavour. I ordered a carafe of house red (Shiraz/Merlot, very nice.) Even so, I was asked to try it before committing to it. I was impressed. Not all eating houses would do this.

One tiny minor niggle: I was not offered water with the meal, I had to ask for it. I was quite happy to be given a glass of tap water and this was no problem ... and it came with ice and lemon!

Fish, poultry and meat-based starters are available. Popular choices include the fish starters and Crispy Chicken. I had the Lamb Tikka. The Tikka pieces were accompanied by yogurt sauces delicately laced with mint and served in stylish oblong dishes. It was well presented and the chilled sauces contrasted nicely with the Lamb which was served from a sizzling tray.

Now, I don't like hot dishes; chili does not agree with me. I like lots of flavour but I don't want to burn my mouth getting it. I have to say that the meal met my personal expectations. If you do have a penchant for sweating your way through dinner, then by all means ask for extra chili, if that's what you want and they will be more than happy to meet your tastes.

For main courses there is a lot to choose from. You can celebrate with the Chef's special and there are as always options suitable for vegetarians. For those who prefer meat, poultry or fish there are several dishes to mull over. A special feature of the menu is that you can order your dish to be cooked the way you want it. A variety of standard cooking methods are available to choose from. If you want your dish to be mild, medium or hot, just tell the waiter when you order. If you want a particular main course and are not sure which sauce to have with it, the waiters will be pleased to advise.

One of their specialises is Swordfish; customers like it, I am told, because it is boneless. Served in a Tikka sauce and fresh Coriander leaves, it is a delicious alternative to meat. I ordered a Prawn dish from the Kerala Province of southern Indian, as I have always been keen on the cuisine of that area.

You can have popadoms if you want them but I love Indian breads, so I ordered my favourite: Peshwari Naan. Rice comes in a variety of styles including plain if you want it. For me I chose another favourite: Pilau. Watch out for the whole spices, though, their Pilau is made authentically with chips of Cinnamon bark.

The plate was hot and the waiter warned me not to touch it. Very good; there is nothing worse than having to eat food off a cold plate. My Prawn Kerala was rich in flavours. Although you could have ordered mild, medium or strong, I asked for it 'as it comes'. It was served with fresh Coriander leaves and had a slight kick from the chilies but nothing too overpowering. The portions were ample, as was the bowl of Pilau rice.

They will cook a dish how you want it; for example if you don't like onions you can ask for them to be left out. It's your choice and Swatlands sets out to please. The well proportioned Peshwari Naan was excellent; cooked in a Tandoor oven, it was crispy on the outside and pleasingly moist in the middle and oozing with those luxuriant flavours of sweet almonds and pungent sesame seeds.

There is a modest dessert menu and fresh coffee is available. I passed on this as my meal had been ample enough. One thing I liked was the use of pre-heated metal trays that are placed on the table with the main course. None of those smelly burners you find in Chinese restaurants. The room filled with the sound and mouth-watering aroma of sizzling dishes being brought out.

At the end of the main meal, a piping hot hand towel laced with lemon is brought to you. One thing I always look for in a restaurant is clean toilets. Full marks to Swatlands, their spotlessly clean loo also had a pile of fresh cotton hand towels, as well as the air dryer. A nice touch.

One further touch which I liked; there was a covered smoking area at the back, in the parking area, rather than on the street.

For those wanting an up-market dining option at home, Swatlands offers a takeaway service. Swatlands is a popular destination for diners and even on the Tuesday evening when I was there it was comfortably full.

All in all, a good dining experience. I spent two hours there before heading off into town for some live music. It was within easy reach of a regular bus route, handy for those wanting to drink with their meal. There seemed to be plenty of nearby parking.

Swatlands has established a reputation as being a destination of choice for lovers of fine Indian dining. With a good but not over-cluttered menu, it's a good value for money option. I happened to overhear one customer say "We have been coming here for eleven years and it is as good as it ever was". Well that's certainly a good commendation.

For more information, visit the Swatlands web site.