MAYBE a form of madness descended on my wife as we ate at Deolali.

Which would be neat because the likeable curry house is named after the Indian town in which scores of British soldiers went insane - or "doolaley" - as they waited to return to Blighty.

But Lynn, a woman of great modesty who shuns publicity just as surely as we Blues fans shun supporting a successful football team, insisted to the owners that she'd be able to produce English desserts with Indian flavourings better than any of the sweets already on the menu.

Bless 'em, the owners took up the challenge and now my wife is busily devising ways to give an Eastern edge to bread and butter pudding and the like.

Whether Lynn's offerings would enhance the menu, I can't say.

But it's a hard ask because the starters and main courses we ate during a midweek visit were impressive.

Poppadums were admirably crisp and properly seasoned. The sauces with them were also likeable.

The Punjabi meatballs that I then ate were wonderful things, their spicing robust but well balanced.

Best of all, though, was the texture - crumbly and light, quite unlike the firm, rubbery consistency of starters such as seekh kebabs.

Lynn's tandoori paneer was said to be "brilliant" while our son Ewan made short work of his crisp and well filled vegetable samosa.

Main courses, too, were good, though perhaps didn't quite hit the heights of our starters.

The pepper chicken I ate included good chunks of moist, flavoursome meat and plenty of sliced peppers.

The sauce, rich with caramelised tomatoes, was enlivened with a good whack of spicy heat.

Lynn and Ewan, too, ordered chicken dishes - each distinctly different and well received.

Portions were generous and we shared between us a naan that was good and light.

Service was impeccably friendly and helpful and, as the place filled up towards the end of the evening, there was a great buzz.

That and this former architectural antique shop's sparse but stylish decor made it a pleasant place to spend time.

The bill, containing a good few drinks, was, I thought, very reasonable.

On this visit we didn't order desserts. Perhaps if Lynn's creations make the menu, that will change.

Verdict

How much? ...£69 for three

Vegetarians? ...... Choices

Child friendly? .........Yes

Disabled access? ...... Fine

Parking? ..... P&D car park nearby

Go back? ..........Happily