Dilshad International Cuisine, 34 Clarence Place, Newport.

AS a self-styled curry connoisseur, it was with great anticipation that I entered the renowned Dilshad International Cuisine.

It is featured in the AA Les Routiers Good Catering guide and has quite a reputation in Newport, so expectations were high.

Walking into the warm atmosphere of restaurant with an appetite that would see off a herd of buffaloes, we began by ordering some pappadoms - as they are spelt here - with mixed pickles and chutney.

When they had been polished off, I had a kebab cocktail (£3.90) and my partner had tandoori king prawns (£4.50).

Both were absolutely delicious and set things up nicely for the main course.

I had some pillaw rice (£1.80) with a Dilshad special curry (£8.50).

This contained an unlikely but surprisingly good combination of chicken, king prawns and prawns with extra special spices.

It was undoubtedly one of the best curries I have ever tasted.

My partner had a "delicious" chicken tikka massalla (£5.50) with half chips and half rice (£2).

I ordered a Bombay potato bhaji (£2)to accompany my curry and my partner had a mixed raitha (£1.50). Both provided a subtle and tasty foil to the spicy main courses.

We also had a keema nan (£1.80) and peshwari nan (£1.80) with our main courses to top things off nicely.

With two beers each, the bill came to just over £47, which, given the quantity and quality of food eaten was good value for money. I am already looking forward to my next visit.