Sharmilee Restaurant

When LV Gosai and his three sons Suresh, Sudhir, and Mukesh opened a small sweet shop in Belgrave Road in 1973, little did they know that their family-run business would soon become a popular Leicester dining destination, attracting dozens of Indians hankering after the simplicity of a home-cooked meal.

The sweet mart sells authentic handmade Indian sweets and savouries, while the vegetarian restaurant serves simple and wholesome light bites and more substantial dishes from all over India, alongside a range of Chinese dishes that have been given an exciting Indian twist.

Most Indians around the world love the sight of, say, bhel puri, a tangy mixture of lentils, peanuts, chickpeas, rice crispies, and potatoes, served as a starter at Sharmilee. Specialities from the south include idli, steamed rice dumplings, and plain or masala dosa pancakes stuffed with seasoned potato and onion.

More substantial choices encompass Hyderabadi vegetable biryani; mildly spiced Kashmiri dum aloo, and baingan bharta, baked aubergine mashed and cooked with tomatoes, onion, and green chillies.

Fruit juices, beer, and spirits support the menu well.