Sugarvine

If we said that the cuisine for this particular restaurant was Indian, you might well be forgiven for conjuring up images of ornate lamps, red upholstered furnishings and carpets, carved wooden chairs, sitars, flock wallpaper and the like. Well The Spice Cube located on the top floor -- or Upper Street -- of The Gate leisure complex - is an Indian, but a million miles away from that traditional image. In fact it turns such expectations on their head. The curry house has evolved, come of age. Young Brits of Indian descent, born and raised here in the UK, are busy reinventing this favourite British cuisine in their own fashion, severing - or at least loosening - the links with the heritage of the old country.

The Spice Cube's looks are eye catching. This is a new dimension. Think space age, contemporary, comfortable modern furnishings but smart, cool, hard floors, and modern Punjabi Zee Music on a large wall-mounted plasma screen in the lounge area. It's all very much a departure from tradition, from the expected. Call it Tandoori chic. As Jaf the owner will tell you, owners of other Indian restaurants have called in, taken one look at the hard and dark polished tableclothless tables and said, "Indian? This isn't a proper restaurant, you've got no tablecloths." Undeterred, Jaf has created a modern Tandoor restaurant here, combined with cafe and bar. Quality oozes from every surface here, the lighting is sophisticated, sexy, the service is professional and discreet.

Plenty of options foodwise ranging from Executive Set Meals -- a selection of dishes priced at £50 for two and £100 for four to a Light Lunch for £4.95 (available 7 days a week) and a Two Course Lunch for £7.25. They also do a two course evening meal for £10.50 - anything from the a la carte menu except King Prawns. Bar service is available throughout the day and evening, with a range of bar snacks available. A nice idea is the Tandoor Tapas selection for £7.25. Children are made welcome with a menu to suit, and if you're in a rush or fancy their great food in the comfort of your own home, they have a takeaway service. Or If you've taken advantage of their 'speed meal' idea, you will have pre-ordered your meal by phone and found it ready on arrival, otherwise you're likely to be seated in the comfortable soft chairs near the bar until your table is ready. Once it is, place yourself ground floor or up on the glass balconied first floor - twin mezzanine wings with a view of the floor below or discreetly tucked away near the VIP booths.

Take an upholstered bench seat or a chair. Oranges and limes, purples and reds for the colour scheme. This is not your standard layout, it's been designed with a designer's touch and well thought out. So okay, it looks good, the staff are well turned out and well trained, the food comes equally well presented. Their a la carte is divided into four sections - Modern, Tandoor, Specials and Classics. With the Specials and Classic dishes you have a choice of basing your selection on either chicken, lamb, prawn (all £7.25) or Chicken Tikka (£7.95), King Prawn (£10.95) or Vegetable (£5.95). There is also a token tribute to English dishes too -- Fried Chicken and Fried Scampi, both £6.95 and served with salad and chips. All three of the well-known Indian beers can also be found here with Kingfisher on tap and plenty of New and Old world choice on the wine list.