Award-winning food, friendly service and a cosy atmosphere - all the right ingredients to make a delightful Indian restaurant. The Taste of Spice in Selkirk has a loyal following who enjoy its extensive menu of pan-Indian cuisine, cooked to perfection by a team of dedicated and skilled chefs. The menu features a fascinating range of 101 dishes, including all the usual suspects, starters, side dishes and breads. However you'll also find an interesting array of chef's specials, which take influence from the various regions of India.

We arrived on a chilly night and were delighted to be met with the warming aromas of spices. After being seated and furnished with beers and poppadoms, we perused the menus. The menu is marked clearly with 'healthy choice labels' so that those on a diet can avoid the calorie-minefield that an Indian menu can often present. Not wanting to overdo it I tried a healthy sheek kebab to start, which saw minced lamb blended with spices, grilled and served with salad and mint sauce. My companion opted for chicken pakora - not so saintly but certainly tasty.

The menu also labels dishes with a rating C1 to C4, the latter being the hottest. This is obviously useful for those who are a little wary of hot food, but equally useful for a self-confessed spice addict as myself. From the chef's specials I selected a fiery C3 jera chilli chicken, which comprised pieces of succulent chicken cooked with cumin seeds, green chillis and a blend of spices, all in a thick sauce. The heat was just right, powerful but without covering the taste of the chicken or the spices. My companion had a mild lamb sag, also from the specials, which was rich with spices and fresh spinach. Fluffy pilau rice and a garlic naan made lovely accompaniments and we finished our meal feeling full and satisfied.

Taste of Spice also offer a takeaway service and outside catering. This truly is a neighbourhood Indian restaurant that everyone would love to have on their doorstep.