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SURVIVAL in the restaurant business is notoriously tough, and the recession is making the quest for happy eating even more risky.
But this has proved no deterrent to the latest newcomer on Retford's eating out scene – in the shape of Indian restaurant Amers.
Dining out enthusiasts may remember the Grove Street eaterie as Maxwells – a sumptuous and popular haven for steak and seafood dishes.
But this closed several months ago – paving the way for the new owners to now provide a stylish and memorable experience for curry fans.
And by all accounts it has kept in with its picturesque and homely setting – boasting contemporary furnishings, artwork and lighting with plenty of personal touches.
As soon as you walk through the door to a warm welcome you know you're not in your traditional Indian restaurant anymore.
There is a stylish and attractive bar on the ground floor, making it the perfect place to relax – before or after your meal.
We were a little late that evening, so our waiter escorted us straight to our table upstairs and left us to browse the menu.
There was the usual range of curries on offer – from mild kormas to madrases for the more adventurous.
But there was also an extensive range of chef's specials to whet your appetite, as well as sizzler section for diners seeking a lighter curry fix.
After much deliberation I opted for chickpea balti as my main, while my dining companion chose chicken rogan josh – completed with a side order of plain naan and pilau rice.
The curries arrived promptly and looked really attractive, with just the right portion size.
Both our curries were tangy and tomatoey, tasted delicious and my friend commented on how his rogan josh did not swamp the tender flavours of the chicken.
The rice was well cooked and the naan bread was a definite winner – you could tell it had just been plucked from the tandoor oven as it arrived piping hot and buttery at our table.
Service-wise, our waiter was very attentive, if not a little apologetic every time he came to attend to us – but I guess an excess of manners is better than rude disinterest.
Our waiter seemed to lose attention when it came to desserts – luckily we didn't want any – and brought us the bill, which came to a very reasonable 24, including drinks.
On the evening of our visit, Amers dished up a pleasing meal which didn’t break any boundaries but didn't disappoint by any means either.
To say it had just been open for five weeks, it was doing well with the food and most certainly the punters.
And I think what really gives the place an edge over many other Indian restaurants in the area is its setting, atmosphere and friendly service - making it definitely worth a look.
by Chantal Spittles
star rating HHHH
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Weather for Worksop
Saturday 26 May 2012
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Temperature: 11 C to 23 C
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Temperature: 11 C to 23 C
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