There’s something about former Methodist chapel that lends itself to Indian restaurants: possibly it’s the size of the space and the way that modern restaurant design uses it. Deeva has taken over such a chapel on Farsley Town Street, and made it into a spacious but intimate dining room downstairs and lounge and informal bar upstairs.
The restaurant opened in October and has gained in popularity since. We turned up without booking at just after 8:30 on a February Saturday night and were told by the maitre de, Sanjir, that we would have a ten minute wait to get a table ready. We sat at the downstairs bar with a drink – bottled Timothy Taylor Landlord was on offer as well as the usual selection of lagers – and as promised, were taken to our table after a short wait.
Poppadoms were offered as we sat down, and delivered with a good selection of pickles including an addictively spicy chilli sauce. My wife and I are vegetarian and weren’t disappointed by the choices available: Sanjir prides himself on this selection and has in the past offered us dishes that he is trying out. Today however, we went for the mixed vegetarian platter for two, chilli paneer, aloo chickpea, pilau rice and a garlic naan.
We were only given one each of the vegetable samosa and paneer tikka as part of the mixed vegetable platter, although both were substantial enough to share. The rest of the selection made up for it with well made onion bhajis and assorted pakora. The pakora were particularily well cooked, with aubergine that melted in the mouth.
Mains are presented individually but were shared as were the rice and naan and all were well flavoured. The chilli paneer needs a little more personality but it was good to see it on the menu as something other than an accompaniment to peas or spinach or as that local staple, the pakora. The naan was slathered in an excellent garlic butter which complemented both dishes.
We didn’t do desserts (I’m diabetic and gulub jaman isn’t a good idea) and the total bill, with drinks, came to just over £40.
Deeva is an excellent addition to an area which is gaining a good reputation for its Indian restaurants, and is well worth a trip out to see what’s making it so popular with the locals.
Deeva, 58 Town Street, Farsley, Leeds LS28 5LD 0113-236-0947
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