Gulshan Indian Restaurant

The Gulshan is a sophisticated restaurant situated on Aigburth Road in the leafy suburbs of South Liverpool, about 3 - 4 miles from both the city centre and Liverpool John Lennon Airport. Along the three-shop frontage is a decorative facia supported by 10 pillars. Tinted, partially curtained windows reveal an inviting restaurant scene - richly decorated and with soft lighting. With impressive leather-backed chairs, crisp linen-dressed tables and decent cutlery, one look is enough to tell you it is likely to be good. The restaurant is fully air-conditioned for ultimate comfort.

Established in 1986, the Gulshan has built up an enviable reputation. The restaurant has warranted an entry in the Michelin Guide for the past 10 years and has twice been voted "Best in the North" in the Cobra Good Curry Guide. Not so long ago it was listed as one of the top 50 restaurants in the country by The Independent newspaper.

The Gulshan can cater for all occasions whether private or business, special celebrations, a romantic meal for two or a sociable night out for group of friends. Whilst if you prefer a night in, there is always the option of a take away. Perhaps you are looking for a venue for a Christmas meal with friends or colleagues; they always have a special Christmas menu and make it easy to book.

The vast menu leaves you spoilt for choice. It offers a good selection of authentic Indian dishes, with the emphasis on flavour. Whether you like your Indian delicately spiced or hot, there is something for you. You'll find all the usual favourites, cooked to perfection. As well as the usual onion bhaji, samosa, tandoori and tikka, the list of starters includes a number of delicious puri dishes.

If you are a lover of fish, the Gulshan offers a fine selection of fish dishes, both as starters and main course, while for a vegetarian, you'll be spoilt for choice with all the vegetables fresh from the market daily, and there is even a vegetarian set menu. For the health conscious, tandoori and tikka is a surprisingly healthy option, they use only the finest, leanest cuts of meat in all their dishes.

Amongst the main courses you will find a variety of delicious masala, byriani and other speciality dishes to suit every taste - each a perfect blend of herbs and spices. Choose from the very mild korma dishes, or the very unusual fruity dishes with banana, mango and lychees. Or perhaps you prefer a balti, the green balti masala is unique to the Gulshan? This dish features chicken, lamb or prawns prepared with freshly pureed coriander, mint, green chillies, tamarind and balti spices. If you prefer your curry very hot, you can choose from madras, vindaloo or bhuna. Or indeed, most main course dishes can be prepared with extra chilli.

To accompany your main course, choose from the range of delicious breads: naan, paratha and chapatti; plain, stuffed or flavoured, or you could try one of the many varieties of pilau rice. And there is the perfect selection of vegetable side dishes to make your meal complete. If it all seems a bit overwhelming, you could always choose from the special set menus, or ask the friendly staff for a recommendation.

The dessert menu also features some authentic Indian dishes such as gulab jamoon - rose flavoured 'dough nuts' served with cream, or kulfi - Indian ice cream flavoured with cardamom, bay leafs and cinnamon, topped with pistachio nuts. Alternatively you could choose from sorbet, ice cream or fruit.

The wine list has everything from house wine to Dom Perignon, and with a bar serving everything from bottled lager to Cognac, you can be assured that you'll find the right liquid accompaniment to your meal - whatever the occasion.

The Gulshan really is a special experience and caters for everyone's taste, but especially for lovers of Indian food. It will provide you with an unrivalled eating experience and then have you coming back for more. The restaurant and take away is open from 5pm every night. It can get quite busy, especially at weekends, so booking is recommended. For more detail and a glimpse of the menu, visit the Website.