A VISIT to Pavel is more akin to a fine dining experience than a typical curry after a few beers.

The restaurant has a bright, modern feel, a million miles away from the cramped, windowless curry houses of old.

From our table at the front we even had a view of the sea – and there are not many Indian restaurants where you can enjoy that.

After some poppadoms the waiters served up crisp, cool lager and red wine and we were soon enjoying our delicious starters.

My wife’s tandoori chicken, marinated in a saffron and yoghurt sauce, was beautifully tasty and cooked to perfection, setting the tone of a night of lovely food.

My mixed kebab included the best onion bhajis I’ve ever had the pleasure of tasting, fresh and not at all greasy.

That freshness was a consistent theme throughout, including a gorgeous little salad.

Those starters got our taste buds going and satisfied our hunger enough so that we could enjoy our main meals slowly.

I always used to go for a chicken madras but I have became more adventurous in recent years and Pavel's murug jull dish was one of those meals you want to go back for and take all of your friends.

The chilli and coriander, again all perfectly fresh, fused to create a sweet, tasty meal that was posed perfectly for my tastes, spicy but not too hot at all. My wife's aloo rogan balti dish with roast potatoes in a tomato based sauce has definitely prised off the grip that the chicken korma has held over her.

Our peshwari naan bread was lovely and fresh and from our experience Pavel's side dishes are not to be overlooked.

The sag aloo (spinach and vegetables) and mattar paneer (peas and cheese) dishes were gorgeous. The menu has all the classic Indian dishes and some specialities which have obviously been created with a passion for food that comes across at Pavel.