Indian Summer - Pioneering Authentic Regional Food for over a Decade
Going for a curry has reached a whole new level of meaning for those who have ventured into Brighton over the last decade and paid a visit to Indian Summer. Gone are the days when a curry consisted of an indistinguishable cut of meat, smothered in hot sauce and spices - plopped into the middle of a plate full of rice. 
Visit Brighton to discover a whole continent of flavour at Indian Summer on East Street, where a careful mix of highly trained chefs, dedicated and friendly staff and beautiful surroundings has made the restaurant a firm favourite for locals and visitors alike.
Using the finest ingredients Indian Summer has been pioneering authentic regional food from the sub continent for over a decade, providing simple, healthy, delicious cooking from well-sourced, seasonal ingredients. Using family recipes handed down through the generations, the cooking is kept fresh through constant innovation - creating new exciting dishes.
We spoke to Minesh Agnihotri, co-owner of the Indian Summer, who gave up his own career to realise his mother's dream and his fathers passion for real indian cuisine. His mission was to open a 'proper' Indian restaurant - to change the perception of curry as indian and deliver it as an elegant offering.
When we spoke of our desire to be able to find authentic Indian food that we could still identify Minesh understood our quest and we were merely echoing his own sentiments. The ingredients that go into the varied dishes at Indian Summer compliment each other, with every spice working in harmony to create dishes that not only please the eye but also taste extraordinary, especially when compared to the curries normally served in an 'Indian' restaurant.
From the moment we arrived and were welcomed by restaurant manager, Tim Greaves, we felt comfortable in the surroundings. The décor is dark but in no way dowdy, the acoustics are vibrant but do not interfere with conversation and the large mirror at the back adds depth of space without losing the intimate feel.
Starting our meal with a bottle of Domaine Saint-Damien Gigondas certainly set the bar for the food to follow. For red lovers this is a fruity wine that lifts to a long yet spicy finish and subsequently proved to be a perfect match to the food. 
Starters included a Masala Dosa - golden rice and lentil pancake filled with savoury vegetables, served with sambhar and coconut chutney (gf/df) , that was absolutely delicious - and the Tandoori Zeera Swordfish - marinaded in whole ground spices and toasted cumins seeds, served on a bed of samphire and tomato salsa. Swordfish can often prove to be a bit on the 'meaty' side but this dish was cooked to perfection; soft tender flesh which allowed the flavour to seep through the texture.
To cleanse our palate we were presented with a small pot of sorbet before our main courses arrived. For our mains we experimented with the Rajasthani Laal Maas - a fiery offering from the state of Rajasthan; diced leg of lamb cooked with whole red chillies, cinnamon, cloves and yoghurt based smooth sauce. Served with raita and saffron pulao. This is a spicy dish but not in the way you would expect it to be. Yes it had a good kick to it but nothing overpowered our senses enough to stop us from appreciating and tasting the combination of fine ingredients. There was no reaching for copious amounts of water to wash down the heat and the the chosen wine was a perfect match.
We also went gluten- and dairy-free with a Alleppay Prawn Moilee - tiger prawns cooked in onion and coconut sauce, served with green bean thoran and basmati rice. I lost count of the prawns that I ate from this dish and I know I begrudgingly left two or three behind. It is a refreshing change to actually see the meat and fish in both dishes, the ratio to sauce is very generous and the portion size spot on.
There is a dessert menu for anyone who still has some room and I must admit the lure of a poached pear with coconut ice cream was too much to resist. Again gluten- and dairy-free this was the ideal choice to refresh the palate, yet light enough to sit well on top of the previous dishes. To completely indulge, a dessert wine closes what has been a wonderful experience. The staff are efficient without haste, polite without intrusion and the atmosphere is busy but calming.
If you are looking for an Indian meal that oozes authenticity and flavour then Indian Summer will deliver. We sat for a while to watch the world go by before venturing out into the torrential rain that has become the norm on late.
"Indian Summer has been serving exceptional, authentic Indian cuisine to Brighton and Hove since 2001. A careful mix of highly trained chefs, dedicated and friendly service, the finest ingredients and beautiful surroundings has made the restaurant a firm favourite for locals and visitors alike. Leave your preconceptions at the door and come and sample our Indian food for yourself."
For more information visit www.indian-summer.org.uk