TUCKED away on an upstairs floor up a narrow flight of stairs is possibly Bath’s finest Indian restaurant.

Indian Temptation aims to bring diners the fresh and best taste of Indian heritage - and it caters solely for vegetarians, vegans and those who can only eat gluten-free products.

Head Chef Vinod and his team take customers on a journey of infusion, innovation and illicit flavours through their extensive Northern and Southern Indian menu.

His specialities bring together the perfect balance of India’s tastiest spices, cooked fresh in our kitchen, completely fulfilling their dream of bringing India itself to your plate.

My wife Feona and I decided to take my colleague Matt out for the evening, and having decided on Bath chose Indian Temptation because Matt is a vegan.

We settled into our seats, ordered some drinks, a non-alcoholic beer (£3.25) for Fee, a coca cola (£2.10) for Matt and a pint of Cobra beer (£5.25) for me, plus four papadums (£2.10 each) while we waited for our meals.

Fee chose the garlic mushrooms (£5.95) to start, and the Mushroom Bell Pepper Masala (£7.95) for the main course, while Matt selected the Mini Uttapam (£4.50) to start and a Dal Tadka (£6.25) for the mains, accompanied by a Paratha (£3.50).

I waited a while for my meal after having requested the Temptation Grand Thali (£15.95), an Indian tapas selection equal to a starter and a dessert, together with a Sada Chawal (£6.50) Basmati boiled rice.

We also ordered a Garlic Naan £3.25) to share.

Fee’s Garlic Mushroom starter comprised button mushrooms tossed in a chilli and garlic sauce, while her main course consisted of baby mushrooms cooked in Indian spices with bell peppers.

Matt’s Mini Uttapam comprised four pieces of lentil pizza topped with masala, tomatoes, onion and chilli, served with coconut chutney and sambhar.

His main course consisted of a Dal Takda lentil stew cooked with ginger, garlic, tomato and onion, tempered with royal cumin seeds, and the Paratha was a delicious flaky unleavened wheat flour bread cooked in a tandoori.

My Grand Thali was a veritable tapas feast, comprising a paneer butter masala, a bhindi masala Indian canape, raita, naan, rice and a rice pudding dessert.

During the meal, Fee ordered a second non-alcoholic beer (£3.25) and Matt another coca-cola (£2.10).

I don’t usually eat vegetarian or vegan meals but mine was delicious, and Fee is itching to go back for more of the mushrooms, while Matt thought all of his dishes, particularly the Dal Tadka, were flavoursome.

The bill came to £78.20, plus a service charge of £7.82, making a total of £86.02, which worked out at £28.67 a head, which I thought was good value for money.

The staff were warm and friendly without being over or under attentive, and I would happily visit again, although I’m not a vegetarian or vegan. I’m already being asked if we can go there again. You can bet we will.

John Baker