The art of food

Our new page is all about the fine food and dining experience offered by Leicester, a city which provides menus from all over the world and notably, the Indian sub continent.

Mem Saab Restaurant, The Highcross Centre , opposite the Showcase Cinema.

Our star rating: *****

Mem Saab is the finest restaurant in Leicester for Indian (Punjabi) cuisine and they are very proud of their high quality food and service, established over 25 years of cooking at a variety of eating houses.

The new venue opened on the 5th November 2008, taking over from the old premises in Vaughan Way. Housed in a new building in the Highcross Centre, the décor is trendy and contemporary - clean and minimalist with a sleek black and white colour theme – a far cry from the old fashioned flocked look and feel of the traditional “curry house”.

The restaurant is both smart and relaxed. This modern building features a first floor atrium dining room leading to an outdoor decking area. The ambience is tasteful and restrained, featuring plain white table cloths and crisp serviettes and the toilets are spotlessly clean.

Mem Saab offers a well priced and attractive lunch menu. There is a special lunch menu for £6.95, providing two courses and this is especially attractive to business people. Lunch served between 12 and 4 p.m., always good if you want a taster for the top class offerings of the al la carte menu which is available from 6 p.m.

Champagne and Cocktail Bar

There is a Champagne bar and an extensive Cocktails menu, some of which feature fresh raspberries or, in summer, try the frozen cocktails. If you want a soft drink, you will get only glass bottled drinks (no “post mix” dispensers here.) The main bar area features a full sized grand piano and at weekends artists provide a little light entertainment for patrons awaiting their tables.

The Chef's Special

This award-winning menu provides one of the best eating experiences you will find in Leicester. On Mem Saab's ground floor there is a special 'tasting' room in which is offered the eight course menu; this is called the Chef's special dining room. This is particularly suitable for private groups. Here the chef can provide a special menu that can be customised to suit individual tastes. The Chef will cook almost anything – including English dishes for those who prefer them.

Fresh food cooked on the premises

The evening al la carte menu offers a delicious variety of dishes, some of which are unique to Mem Saab. They can be adventurous. I tried the Tandoori Ostrich – tasty and rather like a prime beef steak. They use fresh Lincolnshire Ostrich, a meat that is extremely low fat. This is roasted in a Tandoor clay oven which is fired by charcoal. Mem Saab cooks only fresh ingredients. No frozen food to heat up! All starters are “home cooked” on the premises, including the sauces served with the poppadums, which are exceptionally fresh crisp and very light.

Not just Indian

The menu is Punjabi, a region of North India which some would say has the best food on the sub-continent. Mem Saab's menu carries with it over 25 years of tried and tested experience. The nan bread was quality; I had the Peshwari Nan, which is one of my favourites. Absolutely perfect. Crisp and flavourful and none of that “doughy” taste you often get from establishments that do not cook their own on the premises. English diners now have much more knowledge of Indian dishes. You will not find the word “curry” anywhere on the Mem Saab menu. As with Chinese cuisine, people now are able to select which region they want to eat. It's not just Chinese or Indian, it's now about selecting Punjabi, Kerala or Cantonese, Sichuan or Huaiyang traditions. A feature of Punjabi dishes is meat cooked on skewers. There is a good selection of very fresh fish, seafood and meats, plus suitable vegetarian options. Mem Saab offers tantalising flavours and beautifully presented dishes.

The fine dining experience

Traditional “curry houses” tend to over use Chilli, thinking that English diners like to eat food that is burningly hot. Not so the Punjabi menu, which concentrates on bringing out the wonderful colours of Indian spices and herbs, with out launching an all out war on the palette. Another starter I tried was chunks of fresh Scottish Salmon, grilled in the Tandoor oven. It was just tinged and the flavours of coriander and lime really brought it to life. There are no artificial colours or preservatives. The herbs are fresh and not dried. It's all about taste and the distinctive dining experience.

Spot some stars

Mem Saab is a destination of choice for big name artists coming into Leicester to perform at shows. You will also spot celebrities from the sports world, especially football and rugby. Members of our leading bands can also be seen there with their girlfriends. Mem Saab is a name that stands for quality and distinction. They pride themselves in the pursuit of excellence. Eating there is a fine experience, something for that very special occasion. Top notch food served in a clean and appealing environment.

Meetings and after the shows

If you want to retire to somewhere quiet for a business meeting, drop in for a drink between 4 and 6 p.m. For the after-show meal, this is an ideal choice. Mem Saab creates a completely wonderful experience: fine food and a ambience which is smart without being stuffy. The staff are helpful and dedicated to giving you a great dining experience. They want you to come back for more! Many of their customers do just that.

Our recommendations from the Menu:

Starters: Zafrani Salmon Tikka

Main dishes: Lamb with Mint Yoghurt, Fish Bhuna, Garlic Chilli Chicken, Tandoori Jinga, Karahi with Cayane and Jeera

Side dishes: Mixed salad with chickpea and feta, home-made Mango Pickle, Steamed Basmati (Pilau) rice, Peshwari Fruit and Nut Nan. Ask for the “specials card”

Desserts: Indian ice cream flavoured with Cardamom and Pistachio served with fresh raspberries A delicious home made chocolate brownie - which tastes like truffles and is served with a raspberry coolie. Gajar Halwan – an Indian carrot cake, served warm Cardamom pudding served with saffron cream and vanilla ice cream.