Amaani at the Pumphouse, Durham — Restaurant in England

Let me start by saying , my husband and I have eaten in many an Indian restaurant over the years , all over the world. And Amaani is second to none . The food in the Amaani is Excellent ! The staff are exceptional. polite, friendly , attentive, and are great with our children. If you have any dietary requirements have a word and they are happy to oblige ( I’m pescatarian) so can highly recommend on that basis. My family enjoy an Array of food and always enjoy there meal . And They have a lovely Desert menu .Best to book in advance at weekends as can get busy. But they will, if possible fit you in if they can. They also have an out side Area which we really enjoy in the summer evenings having our coffee or a glass of wine after our meal. Ample parking space . Which is amazing, as nothing worse then driving round for trying to find a park ! Never had this problem at Amaani even at weekends as such a big parking Area. They also have a Businessman’s lunch menu on certain days. And they have a takeaway service. There is a tea room during the day also, which I haven’t tried yet but can’t wait to try, as I’ve been told it’s Excellent. It’s a hidden gem of a restaurant. A family run business ( not a fan so much of chain restaurants) The fact that it’s a family run business shows , in the food ,the service etc .. They seem to really genuinely want to make your experience there a great one. They have a bar Area were you can enjoy a drink while ( if need be ) you wait for your table . They serve a good selection of drinks , cocktails, coffees ,beers , wines etc. Would give more then 5*...

Exceptional experience on the outskirts of Durham. Went at Sunday lunchtime, but opted out of the great lunchtime (albeit limited) deal as it was our first visit and wanted to sample more of the menu. Both went for the Thali trays (tandoori and vegetable, respectively) along with a fish momo starter and additional vegetable side (mushroom bhaji). The Thali choice was a perfect introduction to what Amaani have to offer. Both the meat and vegetable trays offered 4 different tikka or curry dishes each as good and flavourful as the last. My partner informs me that the tikka masala was a true standout compared to other restaurants we've tried. Thali portion for money is also exceptional, considering you get to sample four curries, small starter portion, rice and bread - you can't really go wrong. Our only reservation is that the dishes lacked heat spice wise, which albeit we probably could have asked for spicier of we'd thought about it! Will recommend, and...

Appalling service.. Made to feel as unwanted as a burnt chilli in Tadka Dhal

Whilst the diners in 4 other tables were eagerly checked and catered for, our family were totally ghosted, we appeared to be either invisible or consciously ignored by the staff.

Our request for an extra plate for our toddler son fell to deaf ears. And whilst tables of other guests were cleaned & cleared of used plates & cutlery between every course, we were offered no such privilege, the waiter just dumped our 2nd starter course (which we waited patiently for nearly an hour after 1st course) amongst all the used plates and just walked off !! To save us from further humiliation, we abandoned our dinner plans and left.

Sadly, it seems the colour of your skin & the accent of your tongue determine the level of service you deserve. So, don’t be surprised if your Desi (Indian, Subcontinent) food is served with a healthy dose of nostalgic experience as a second class Desi from...