What do you expect when you eat at a typical Indian restaurant?

I prefer the classic style, with flock wallpaper, high-backed wooden chairs with upholstered seats, heavy tables placed together as needed to seat varying numbers of people, carpets, subdued lighting, and so on.

Near me there was one restaurant which had just that, and the food was excellent. But they had a second restaurant a short distance away which was much brighter and had those horrible round aluminium tables with matching chairs that screeched when you moved them. Whenever I ate there, I think the food was not as good - but I reckon the atmosphere had a lot to do with it as well.

The trouble is they refitted the main one in the same style: it was like a public lavatory lit by floodlights inside. Really ruined it.

So what do you like?

I've just found this site and it looks very interesting.

I'd be interested in anyone's comments on this recipe. I've been trying for years to get that authentic restaurant taste and have been through many of the books. Some of them are nearly there (The Curry Secret) but none of them are spot on.

I saw this being made by a restaurant on a satellite TV show (can't remember which one). They didn't give any quantities, but I wrote it down and watched what they did, and have experimented a bit with it. This serves ONE person (if it's me) or maybe TWO depending on what you serve it with.

I hope this is the right sub-forum - it isn't an actual name-specific Restaurant Recipe and the main aim is to get the gravy taste right.

large chicken breast (cut into pieces)
1 large onion (chopped)
4 or 5 tbsp sunflower oil
1 tsp ground cumin
1 tsp ground coriander
1 tsp garam masala
1/2 tsp chilli flakes
2 tsp turmeric
1 chicken stock cube
1/2 tsp salt
2-3 tsp ground methi leaves
whole bulb of garlic
1-2 inches of ginger
4-5 tbsp chopped tomatoes
3-4 tbsp coconut milk
fresh coriander
water

Put the oil in a wok and fry off the onions slowly until they're golden. Increase the heat and add about three quarters of the garlic (crushed) and the ginger (pureed). Cook for 30 secs.

Add the chicken pieces and cook with continuous stirring. Try to get some colour on the chicken (not too much) - about 5 minutes.

Add about a cup of water and bring to the boil. Cook for a further 5 minutes.

Add the spices in blue and mix carefully. You may need to add a little more water at this stage (actually, you definitely will). Cook for a further 2-3 minutes.

Add the tomatoes and coconut milk and cook on a lower heat until the chicken is just about done. Add the ground methi and remaining garlic (crushed) and cook for a couple more minutes.

At the end, throw in the chopped coriander to taste (I use a whole bunch).

Sometimes I use a teaspoon of mint sauce to give it a tang.

The whole thing only takes about 45 minutes including preparation and in my opinion it is the closest I have got to the restaurant flavour.

I'd appreciate anyone's comments if they give it a try - and any suggestions.

The ONE THING I can't seem to get right no matter what recipe I use is that toasted garlicky smell you get when you hang around outside a curry house (sad or what?) and the garlicky 'afterburn' the next day