Knowing that Bokhara Brasserie had been voted the best Indian restaurant in Wales at the British Curry Awards in 2011 (having won the accolade twice before in 2008 and 2009) and placed in the top ten Indian restaurants in Britain by The Independent’s food critic, Roopa Gulati, my dining partner and I arrived with expectations which were not only met, but greatly exceeded.

From the list of starters we sampled the tandoori fish tikka, the kumbh tandoori – comprising mushrooms in tandoori paste cooked in a charcoal tandoor oven – and the barrah kebab, which featured chargrilled chunks of lamb, marinated in yoghurt, vinegar and spices. For our main, we tried the signature dish of chicken chettinard, which is a delicacy from South India prepared with chunks of chicken in a blend of spices and tomato gravy, tempered with curry leaves and red chillies. I chose the baingan ka bharta and tucked into roasted aubergine sautéed with tomatoes, onions, garam masala, red chillies and coriander. The smoky taste infused from the charcoal oven was just exquisite.

To finish off your meal, I would suggest the Bombay kulfi ice cream, which is both nutty and refreshing. Book a table and allow your tastebuds to be indulged at Bokhara Brasserie – a truly exceptional restaurant in the wonderfully unique surroundings of a grade-II-listed Georgian manor.