Indie Spice, Sandymount is the latest addition to the Indie Spice brand run by Tariq Salahuddin. Just about to celebrate it’s 1st birthday shortly, it now joins Belfast, Naas and Swords.

Sandymount is a 1st floor location, overlooking Sandymount village, but is completely wheelchair accessible. This location is very central and on Saturday night at 8pm and it was already nearly full and the tables kept turning over the course of the evening till we left just after 10pm. It was a truly diverse group of people from large parties, couples, and girls night out ranging in age from young to old.

On arrival we were seated at our table and given nibbles of poppadoms and a selection of dips while reading the extensive menu and wine list. If you are like me and can’t decide ask the staff for their recommendations, I found them to be really helpful and knowledgeable.

Indie Spice use whole spices in their kitchens, which they personally grind and then add chili proportionately – this to me is the difference between spicy and tasty. Here there is something for every palate, and to make it even simpler on the menu is graded from mild to very, very hot and everything in between. There is also a large selection of vegetarian dishes and everything can be ‘Kid Sized’.

All the food is homemade on the premises and only prepared at the time of order. The only dishes pre-prepared are those that need marinating over a period of time. The spring lamb is bought when in season and stored so that it is always available. I had Lamb Korma and have to say this is a dish I would truly travel for, it was delicious. Signature dishes are the fish curry, the Bangladesh prawn and also the mahi mahi.

The wine list is also extensive and doesn’t stop only at wines but also has a nice selection of champagnes for that special occasion and very reasonably priced from €29.95. They also have their very own cocktail list if you are feeling a bit more adventurous.

Tariq was in the background all night ensuring that everything ran smoothly, without you even being aware that ‘the owner was in the house’. The attention to detail was noticeable in lots of different areas from the presentation of the food to the recipes on the side of the place mats. We took these home and will definitely try them out.

Also, don’t forget the next time you are ordering in, look at Indie at home.