Laguna

When it opened its doors in 1984 Laguna was one of the only fine dining Indian restaurants in the UK and it has remained at the forefront of this field ever since.

Today, snowy white linen and furnishing upholstered in red fabric create an elegant, upscale atmosphere that lends itself to a party, although it’s still relaxed enough that the clientele is often made up of locals catching up over a few beers and a hearty curry.

Menus draw inspiration from throughout northern India and it’s quite the culinary journey. Chatpatti chilli gobhi sees crispy cauliflower florets cooked in Indo-Oriental spices, while fresh tilapia is gently charcoaled over an open fire and offset by a cooling salad.

Unusually for an Indian restaurant equal attention is given to desserts and the result is a colourful education in sweets from the subcontinent. Gulab jamun are delicious dumplings sticky with cardamom but be sure to leave room for the malaiwalli kulfi, velvety ice cream garnished with pistachios and delicate rose petal sauce.