Popadom's is a relatively new restaurant situated on Hartlepool's Marina near Krimo's, which used to house Cafe Indigo.

After spending most of my adult life sampling the wares of the many curry houses in town this reviewer can say Popadom's is the finest.

Basically, the quality of this contemporary Indian cuisine is second to none.

Whereas some restaurants can be guilty of including a little too much ghee in the dishes they serve up, the wide range of delights at Popadom's are near on perfect.

My partner started with the palak pakora (£2.95) - lightly spiced spinach and onion savoury which was nice and light and non-too greasy.
While I chose the dosa (£2.95) - wafer thin rice flour bread with gorgeous spiced vegetable filling.

For the main course, my partner chose the vegetable massalla (£5.95) mixed vegetable in a splendid tandoori sauce, while I chose the prawn palak (£4.95) a chingri dish similar to bhuna, except spinach is added alongside garlic and hot green peppers for a taste sensation.

The meal was served with basmati rice (£1.95) and peshwari nan bread (£1.95), which included raisins, coconut and cous cous for the best peshwari we've ever tasted.

That was washed down with two pints of cool and refreshing Cobra (£3).
For dessert we both chose the kulfi ice cream mint and banana flavours (£2.50 each) which finished the meal off perfectly.

The service was attentive without being obtrusive and the atmosphere on a busy Saturday night pleasant and relaxing.

We also noticed a steady stream of take away customers throughout the night and no surprise as Popadom's offers a very generous 20 per cent discount on all takeaway meals.

It seems the days of burning-hot curry after the pubs have turned out on a weekend night are long gone. Long live Popadom's.
- Ian Monaghan

Popadom's, Britannia House, Slake Terrace, Hartlepool, TS24 0YB. Tel: (01429) 266777.

Open every evening from 5pm to 11.30pm. 20 per cent discount on all takeaway meals.

Food

Service

Atmosphere 4/5

Value for money 5/5.