We had our first night off in 12 tonight (we're in the entertainment business) so we decided to check out Aneesa's; the new Punjabi buffet restaurant at Laygate in South Shields. WOW!! That's all I can say! Well, it's not really all I can say....... I certainly don't think that I could praise it highly enough, though. Everything about it from the very modern, comfortable décor; to the service and the huge choice of food (including seven or eight different pizzas for a bit of variety) was absolutely top class. Forget everything that you think you know about buffet restaurants: this one really is pure, traditional quality. From pickles and chutneys to raitas and salads, chicken tikka, sheek kebab, lamb or vegetable pakoras, lamb ribs (the meat from which melted in the mouth), chicken wings, popadoms and naans: they really did have almost every starter you could want. We were almost full from the starters alone and so, had to take a rest before resuming with the main courses. Choices of plain or pilau rice, chicken korma or madras, lamb rogan josh or methi lamb, vegetarian curries, palak paneer (a delicious spinach and cheese dish which I had seen on many a menu but never tried until tonight) and several other main meals, each of which I we felt it was 'our duty' to sample and all of which were as delicious as both the last and the next. For desserts there were chocolate or strawberry gateaux with cream (if one so wished), fruit, sweet vermicelli or rice pudding. Soft drinks were reasonably priced, though the restaurant (because of religious beliefs) does not serve alcohol! This is not a problem though: you are more than welcome to bring in your own alcohol and they have no problem with supplying you with glasses from which to drink your 'carry ins'. We were trying to decide whether we'd ever had a better meal out, in this country and came to the conclusion that we haven't. We have eaten out, on average, once a week for more than eight years so, as you can imagine, this is high praise indeed! The restaurant has been open for only five weeks: I hope that these high standards are maintained. Anyway... we are off again on Monday and are planning on revisiting just to make sure that we weren't dreaming. We'll be taking a crowd of friends with us to share the joy though.
Aneesa’s Buffet Restaurant – South Shields