ALTHOUGH our eating habits have become much more adventurous and varied over the years, there is a tendency to stick with the tried and trusted when it comes to where we choose to eat.
However, one of the perks of my role with Business Times is that over the years, I have been able to visit many restaurants that otherwise I would not have contemplated. This has included quite a few Indian restaurants but, until now, has not featured a visit to Lasaan in Whitehills Crescent, Northampton.
Diners visiting Lasaan are invited to taste the true flavours of Indian, Bangledeshi and British Asian cooking cultures with the promise that they will be provided with some of the most exciting flavours they will ever taste.
The expert chefs at Lasaan are led by Aktar Hussin, who boasts around 35 years of recreating some of the hidden secrets from Bengal, India and Bangladesh to transport diners to the time where food, colour and music gave birth to a vibrant culture and the food that is now loved worldwide.
Lasaan was opened just over five years ago by Enam Haque, the Shadow Cabinet member for Environment on Northampton Borough Council.
He has created a smart, contemporary restaurant where visitors are treated more as friends than casual acquaintances. This is borne out by the fact that the owners estimate that 70 per cent of their business comes from repeat customers. In fact, one customer has made some 200 visits in 18 months.
The emphasis is on food. The restaurant does not serve alcoholic drinks but diners are welcome to bring their own drinks. Conveniently, there is an off-licence next door for anyone who may be caught out by this.
With not having previously visited the restaurant, the menu deserved more than a casual glance. Our study was aided by a couple of poppadoms each together with chutneys – one of which deserves special mention. It is a tomato sauce based one, but with chef Aktar’s special ingredients to make it one to savour.
After careful consideration I selected Chicken Anawaka from the house specials options. Listed as a best seller, the dish comprises sliced chicken with a mix of mushrooms, green peppers, tomatoes, a touch of green chilli and cooked in a medium spiced sauce (there is also a lamb version), while Sue’s choice was Garlic Chilli Chicken from the Chef’s Recommendations section of the menu. This was tender chicken cooked with cloves of garlic, onions and green pepper in hot sauce.
Aktar’s expertise shone through both dishes which were delicious with just the right amount of heat but not to the point of dominating the taste. We accompanied our meals with pilau rice and an onion bhaji.
The Lasaan assurance to diners is excellent food, excellent atmosphere, excellent service and excellent value. It certainly lived up to these qualities on our visit.
Special diets including vegetarian, gluten-free and vegan, are catered for.
Lasaan was runner-up in the Spice Restaurant of the Year category in the Carlsberg UK Northamptonshire Food and Drink Awards in 2016 – it is planning to enter again this year – and has featured in the BCA Curry Awards.
Lasaan is open seven days a week from 5pm to 11pm (Sundays until 10.30pm). There is a banquet night on Wednesdays, group bookings are welcome and charity events are held a couple of times a year.
Lasaan, 8 Whitehills Crescent, Northampton, NN2 8Ep. Tel: 01604 844244/843500 or visit www.lasaan.co.uk