DELAYED ENTRY 3rd June - Cook-Ri, Epsom

(01372 727444 - www.cook-ri.co.uk)

Paul and I (Chris) went for dinner with our friends Alison, Abby and Gemma. It was a little strange - we were the only group in the restaurant. Still, it has only opened fairly recently.

I can't now remember every dish we tried, but some things did stand out.

We were given a complimentary starter - a water puri. It was a small, dish-shaped pastry shell, with pulses and a very liquid sauce inside. The waiter told us to put it all in our mouth and bite. It was a close fit, even for a big mouth like me. But, what a sensation! Crunch, wet, cool, spicy, delicious...

Paul had a duck starter called Haas Ko Choyla, which was very tasty. I had a lamb main course called Himali Masu, which was delicious and tender. We all tried a bit of everything, and it was extremely good.

The service was discreet yet friendly and warm. This restaurant deserves to prosper - go and try it!

Our rating: FOUR STARS