We are very fortunate in this district to be served by numerous excellent restaurants with food from all over the world and if you fancy trying some excellent Indian and Bangladeshi cuisine, The Curry Leaf is definitely worth a visit.  You can be sure of a warm welcome from the owner, Ali Uddin, and his friendlly staff are always on hand to ensure you have an enjoyable evening.  The menu boasts a host of exotic dishes and if you're not sure what to try, Ali will come up with a recommendation to suit your taste.  

On a visit last month my partner Keith and I decided to go for dishes we hadn't had before, just to be adventurous, and we started with Mussels Rangila for Keith and Palak, a 'famous Indian street snack', for me.  Keith's generous serving of mussels was completely covered in a thick and creamy almond sauce - mussels as we had never seen them before!  The taste, however, was superb - the sauce didn't obscure the flavour of the mussels but complimented them very well.  Be warned, this starter is very filling so bear that in mind when ordering your main course!  My Palak was rather like an Onion Bhaji, but with creamy spinach in the centre instead of onions, which also tasted great dipped in Keith's almond sauce!  

Keith decided to choose a highly recommended sea food dish, the Trout Khakri, for his main course, a medium to hot dish with the trout cut into small pieces and cooked with onions, herbs and spices in a bhaji formula.  His verdict was 'unusual, but very enjoyable'.  I opted for a House Speciality dish, the Special Curry Leaf Balti - a tangy combination of prawns, lamb and chicken with vegetables.  Knowing how filling Ali's meals can be we had ordered just one vegetable and one rice dish to accompany our main course which was ample.

For a first visit why not try their Special Wednesday Banquet Night for a four course meal at just £10.95 per person.  Or you can eat as much as you like at their Sunday Lunch Buffet which costs £7.95 for adults and £4.95 for children. Both deals offer excellent value for money and you may discover a favourite new dish!

The Curry Leaf Indian and Bangladeshi Restaurant, 7 The Parade, Coulsdon Road, Old Coulsdon CR5 1EA.  Telephone:  01737 558899/556644.