Restaurant-Guide.com
hand picked restaurants

The Gulistan House gave the people of Dundee a chance to sample Indian cuisine as early as 1979 and is considered to be the first such restaurant in the area. Following an intricate refurbishment, the restaurant reopened with a completely new design and menu in 2002.

Today, it stands as Tayside's longest established Indian restaurant and welcomes customers in to its attractive interior that is influenced by traditional art and culture but designed in a refreshingly modern way.

Plates of lamb tikka or tandoori king prawn with warm mulligatawny soup can be had as starters. These could be followed by the royal Mughalai rice dish of biryani or mains of chicken, prawn, lamb or vegetables, all created in authentic karahi, tikka masala, balti, kurma or the more traditional bhuna, dhansak or rogan josh style, and complemented by rice or naan bread. The chef's speciality could consist of chicken Lahori that bursts with all the wonderful flavours of ginger, tomato, green chillies, onions and tamarind.

Spirits, beer and wine from around the world complete the picture.

Ashoka Shak in Dayton Drive offers guests relaxed dining in a family friendly setting. They can expect to find an extensive and varied Indian cuisine menu that is usually found in all Ashoka group restaurants. Feel at ease in anticipation of enjoying your favourite curry.

The tandoori selection includes lamb chops, grilled Pacific king prawns, Lahore style chicken kebab, tandoori salmon and 'kick ass' chicken kebab, which is chicken marinated in a Creole style sauce and skewered with onions, mushrooms and bell peppers. After whetting their appetites sufficiently, diners can then proceed to sample the curry selection, choosing from the creamy chasni, coconut flavoured Ceylonese korma, sweet and sour patia and spicy Jaipuri. House specialities include butter chicken, garlic chilli chicken, lamb biryani and Goanese fish curry. Items of choice for vegetarians range from masala dosa to okra sautéed with onions in a medium sauce. A range of spirits, bottled beers, white and red wines gives more comfort at Ashoka Shak.

Providing stunning views of the city quay, Metro Brasserie and Restaurant is an informal dining out option to relax and unwind after a tough day at work or to simply linger over coffee with friends. Situated in the well-appointed Apex City Quay Hotel, Metro Brasserie has a stylish, contemporary and airy interior along with comfortable booth seating.

The menu is decidedly global and takes a modern route to encompass dishes with prominent influences from Italy, South America, the Pacific Rim, and of course Scotland. Expect the likes of beer battered fish and chips with mushy peas and tartar sauce, Thai spiced chicken curry, lemon grass and jasmine rice, or fillet of farmed cod, sunblush tomato and basil risotto. Dark chocolate tart served with Grand Marnier ice cream and sticky toffee pudding topped with butterscotch sauce are two classic options for a perfect finish.

Conveniently located in Dundee's city centre and related to the Perth based Café Tabou, Le Gourmet is a classic French restaurant with a modern continental style décor of comfortable wooden furniture, relaxed surroundings and rich furnishings. The Mediterranean inspired menu has a variety suitable for every discerning palate and is made from fresh natural and organic ingredients. The food is affordable and served by a friendly and experienced staff.

Dishes of bruschetta; antipasto misto della casa, a selection of cured meats with olives and cheese, vie with grilled lamb chops and Greek salad for the diner’s attention. Specials include dishes of cataplana de marisco, a Portugese seafood dish flavoured with herbs and spices; tarte al oignon, traditional onion tarts with goat cheese and osso buco Milanese, an Italian dish consisting of a stew of veal shin pieces braised in white wine with assorted veggies.

The extensive wine list has been handpicked to include a wide selection of grape varieties from around Europe - primarily France, as well as a selection of organic and biodynamic wines.

The recent upsurge in game dishes on restaurant menus is hardly surprising; their exquisite flavour is enough to warrant attention, but what about game fish? The Atlantic blue marlins are one such species with a spear-like snout ready to knife through a school of prey. Thankfully, its namesake restaurant has shifted to the heart of Dundee on the waterfront which is a restrained place where diners are seen enjoying the best of what the coastal waters of Fife and Angus have on offer.

So here's a chance to get your feet wet, sorry taste buds whetted, possibly with a warm calamari salad with red onion, pimento, chilli and olive dressing, or Scottish mussels steamed in white wine, onion, garlic, herbs served with French bread. Grilled chicken breast served on champ with mushroom, garlic and chorizo butter or lobster and prawn tails set on turmeric flavoured rice in a creamy South African style curry sauce are particularly attractive main course options. In addition to the usual sticky toffee pudding, the dessert list at Blue Marlin has something else interesting; keep an eye open for the dark and white chocolate cheesecake set on biscuit base with raspberry compoté.