Dalchini, the Hindi word for cinnamon, conjures up the exotic scent of Indian spices and this engaging Indian restaurant at Alnwick has a similar lingering effect on diners and thrives on repeat business.

Tastefully done up in pleasant colours, the restaurant has comfortable high-backed chairs that provide contemporary elegance. Its customised furniture, crockery and cutlery add a classy touch, while the extensive carte presents traditional Indian fare as well as some British dishes, along with an attractive bar menu.

You could begin a meal with chicken or lamb tikka roasted in a tandoor with garlic mushrooms, or feast on seafood in a sweet and sour sauce. If you prefer something milder, then the prawn masala with cream and aromatic spices is a good bet. Their lamb tikka marinated in yoghurt and a bouquet of spices and cooked in a clay oven and topped with almonds is also well worth a try.

A special Malayan curry, a combination of pineapple and bananas is a vegetarian's delight, as is the mixed vegetables simmered in a sauce made from ginger, garlic and fresh coriander leaves. The food is carefully selected and lovingly cooked. Shab, Dalchini's proprietor, takes great pride in their signature dishes like stuffed peppers and seafood specials, and the warm service the restaurant is now synonymous with.