The Ambrette

Introducing new friends to The Ambrette in Rye on a Saturday night a few weeks ago was a real treat. All that elegantly presented delicious food and great company too.

The Ambrette has an excellent reputation and lived up to expectations. Traditional Indian flavours with a contemporary style and locally sourced produce. See the intricate range of mouth watering combinations here www.theambrette.co.uk

This restaurant wins in a whole variety of ways.  Rye itself is a quaint and attractive spot and particularly the high street with this ivy covered georgian building in its centre. The interior is modern achieving both stylish and relaxed in equal measure. Once seated the first of a number of extra tantalising delicacies arrive. A delicious lychee and orange drink swiftly followed by a pre starter of  a tiny spicy onion bahjee.

As a party of six there was much deliberation about what to choose as every single dish offers endless possibilities. For starters the dosai with spiced potatoes was a popular choice. Also "tender breast of chicken marinated in black stone flower and wild alexander seeds roulade, lentil salad, fresh horseradish and cucumber raita, coriander chutney"

The calves liver with spiced Kentish cherries was pretty good too

Before the main courses came a small cup of spiced tomato soup. Then slow cooked mutton, aubergine with goats cheese and mushroom and tempura of courgette flower with roast beetroot. Naturally each also came with a range of added touches, techniques and tasty twists like kentish cob nuts and garlic pate and kashmiri style sauce of cinnamon and saffron.

Then a refreshing glass of granita with popping space dust to make way for the grand finale the irresistible trio of desserts

The Ambrette deserves its numerous rave reviews and should be commended for keeping the price of a three (or I should say six) course meal to around £24 a head. A splendid all round evening which we plan to repeat before too long.