'I tried everything I could at the Indian restaurant that's just come to Ancoats'

Walking into Indian Affair in Ancoats for the first time, I'm greeted with the comforting smell of incense mixed with a range of fresh herbs and flavours - and then I catch eyes with the diners at one of the nearby tables and see the impressive array of food they are attempting to make their way through. The just-opened venue is the sister site to the Chorlton restaurant with the same name and is based in the former Rigatoni’s site in Cutting Room Square - making it the area’s first and only Indian restaurant. But owners Harshit and Natasha Chopra insist it’s more of an Indian kitchen rather than a restaurant - offering a modern slant on dishes, like chicken tikka and lamb biryani, as opposed to serving up traditional variations.

With that in mind, whilst there are still curries to pick from, there are a generous offering of street food snacks - including samosas, patties, and bao buns - to order and share between friends too. READ MORE: £25 burgers and £9 desserts - 'basic' TGI Fridays has priced itself out As I ask Harshit about the decision behind the name, he tells me he and his wife Natasha wanted to come up with something that demonstrated their love for Indian cuisine and their Delhi upbringing. In that sense, he says that Indian Affair just seemed like a fitting descriptor.

And, having had their base in Chorlton for two years now, it seems to have hit the spot with customers. Speaking about the food on the menu, Harshit said he wanted to come up with something.