Rowena H.
Yelp
Okay, I've only been the once. And that's a bit keen to say I'm giving five stars. But, I am a generous type and Tharavadu are more than deserving. To taste their cuisine is to know the true meaning of flavour. Perhaps that sounds like an overstatement? I dare you try their crab curry and tell me I didn't taste the most delightful thing in Yorkshire. I barely understood it.
Three friends and I bore great holes in our stomachs for 3 hours so as to eat here sans booking. (We supped in Bundobust until a table was free.) And we are so glad we did! I'll admit, we were sat for a good 50 minutes before anything arrived, but all was forgiven the minute we began our starters. The chilli paneer is definitely delicious, and a very generous portion, but it's all about the massive prawns -- these were outstanding. The most delectable mistake that was ever made. (My friend had asked for poori, but we think our server misheard. We did not complain!) I don't really like seafood, and yet the meat on these was ridiculously good.
I'll say it right now -- I had the least exciting dish of the table. I ordered a chicken curry, coconut based, and it was truly excellent. However, it paled in comparison to the flavours of said crab curry, the baked tilapia, and the dosa. The aubergine curry was unbelievable. Basically, food like this makes me feel like I'm losing my touch with words, because the more exquisite it is, the less I feel able to describe it, so end up listing superlatives and boring adjectives. Let's save everyone from TL;DR mode and just list them here:
Divine
Delicious
Delectable
Beautiful
More-ish
Exquisite
Mouth-watering
Etc.
Truly, it's a wonderful establishment. You can tell that each dish is made with love and the knowledge of a masterful chef. It's probably, even based on one visit, my top place for Indian cuisine in Leeds. Further to this, despite the epic wait, the staff are all truly lovely. They were attentive, fun, friendly, and patient with us as we took forever to leave! Great new addition to the city. Last thing: Did I mention how reasonable the prices are? Can't believe it.