Lewes is a coastal town situated in the south east of England's county of Sussex, where Shanaz Indian Cuisine provides locals with fine Indian fare using a medley of traditional cooking techniques, blended with a dash of contemporary diversity. The welcoming front of house manager and owner of this high street restaurant goes the extra mile to make the Shanaz dining experience enjoyable.
Shanaz's menu runs the gamut of curry house classics, but stretches out with some more interesting options, in the form of the hot and citrussy lebu, or the cumin and cinnamon edged jeera. Also worth trying is the chef's own 'kumla', a medium or hot dish, featuring slow-cooked fresh oranges. Indeed, the chef's specials are all fruit-based, oddly enough, but well worth a try, especially served with peshwari naan. A beautifully spiced chicken dhansak and chilli garlic balti are also there to tickle the taste buds and the vegetable samosas are worth writing home about.
Deceiving from the outside, the restaurant looks small from the front, but there is a cosy downstairs basement dining area, with foliage decking the ceiling and traditional tables covered in crisp white tablecloths, giving off a warm, homely feel to the place. Located close to the South Downs National Park and along the coast, Shanaz is just the ticket to enjoy a spicy lunch after a morning of walking. It's also a good spot for a romantic evening meal for two, for those who want to spice up their date night. This slightly kitsch Lewes Indian restaurant is perfect for full on flavoursome Indian food and reliable and friendly service.