Since opening its doors, Zouk’s eclectic and distinctive menu has quietly but steadily gained the restaurant many fans amongst Manchester’s curry aficionados.

The Venue
Zouk sits opposite Manchester Metropolitan University on Chester Street, next door to Blue Ginger and Rice and just around the corner from Odder. A large patio area gives way to a stylish, understated space which is set over three levels. It is decorated in soft greys and creams, and rows of dark wooden tables garnished with peace lilies lead the naked eye to intimate booths set against the back wall. A bustling, open-plan kitchen stretches the full length of the restaurant giving you plenty of opportunities to see the chefs at work as they spin rotis and tame the many charcoal grills into submission.

The Atmosphere
With opening hours from 12pm to 12am, Monday-Friday, and a 1am close on Fridays and Saturdays, the restaurant has been designed to be both a light and airy stop for lunch and an atmospheric dinner destination. By day the floor-to-ceiling windows let in plenty of light as nearby office workers and more affluent students gather for lunch. As the evening draws in, the spotlights in the impossibly high ceiling cast a subtle glow across the combination of young professionals, Asian families and couples. This helps to create an intimate atmosphere. Upbeat Indian music keeps things lively until the restaurant begins to fill up, when the music starts to take a backseat to the hum of chatting diners.

The Food
Halal Indian is the order of the day at Zouk, although recipes and cooking from neighbouring Pakistan are also prominent. The menu is an extensive affair, ranging from kahari and handi dishes through to a seafood menu boasting black cod and lobster. The majority of the menu steers away from obvious dishes (though they do offer a korma and chicken tikka masala) and you will even find more unusual offal-based dishes like sheep’s brains and sheep’s trotters, cooked by chefs from Lahore.

The starters provide some mouth-watering options like Zouk’s much-celebrated char grilled lamb chops, but not all of the options are as memorable. The chicken imlee (£3.50) looks distinctly underwhelming when it arrives as four chunks of sigri-grilled chicken, with a simple handful of shredded salad and a soft slice of tomato. It tastes better than it looks; the chicken is complimented by a richly spiced marinade and the accompanying tamarind and plum sauce is a tangy treat. The tandoori quail (£4.95) is a touch more disappointing. Presented in the same way, the tandoori spices prove too overpowering for the delicate quail meat.

However, the restaurant really comes into its own with the mains. If you’re in the mood for seafood, particularly recommended is the monkfish (one of the more expensive options at a still relatively modest £14.50), which is marinated in a secret recipe sauce and then steam grilled using the pani sigri method. The resulting dish presents the monkfish at its best, with the fish coming away in pearlescent, slightly sweet chunks. The vegetable rice is a little too heavy an accompaniment but team the monkfish with lemon rice (£1.70) and you’ll be onto a winner.

If you prefer a curry, the lamb nehari is one of the best lamb curries you will find in Manchester (£8.95). The chunks of lamb just about hold together while you spoon the curry onto your dish. However, the slightest pressure sees the lamb fall apart into tender strands that melt in the mouth, and the accompanying sauce is thick and rich with a heat that begins subtly and finishes in a blaze of glory. With curry this good, all you need is a little steamed rice (£1.50) and a squeeze of lemon juice to bring out the flavours in the sauce.

When it comes to dessert, the friendly waiting staff lead you over to a large dessert counter full of bombastic, extravagant gateaux, cheesecakes and cream-topped tarts (all of which, it is stated, are made on the premises). People who prefer something a little lighter may struggle. There is an attractive fruit tart available at £3.95 which boasts a colourful array of redcurrants, blueberries, raspberries and exotic fruit, but the custard at the centre is a bit bland and the consistency is a little rubbery. Having said that, the main course portions are so generous that even if you’re not tempted by the sweets it is unlikely you will leave the restaurant hungry.

The Drinks
The beer list avoids obvious contenders in favour of unusual beers such as the Moroccan Casablanca (£2.50), the Indian Lai Toofan (£5) and giant bottles of King Cobra (£7.95 for 750ml). The wine list is short but well-chosen; the house red (£9.95) is a respectable Chilean El Emperador Merlot which has plenty of blackberry and plum notes offset by a peppery finish and there are a couple of champagnes available if you want to splash out. If booze isn’t your tipple there is a great range of non-alcoholic drinks on offer, from mango laysee (£6 for a jug) through to the cardamon-flavoured Kashmiri Chai tea (£2.25).

The Last Word
When the menu is as eclectic as this, there will always be some dishes that are more successful than others – but when Zouk gets it right, it ranks up there with Manchester’s best Indian restaurants. With its inviting space, interesting menus and reasonable prices it is easy to see why Zouk is headed for great things.

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