The Spice Lounge Express

The Spice Lounge on Friar Gate is one of the longest-standing Indian restaurants in Derby's Cathedral Quarter, set in a Georgian-era street that runs west out of the city centre. The dining room has built a strong local reputation over the years, picking up Best Indian Restaurant in Derbyshire and several Derby Food and Drink Awards across the 2010s. Tripadvisor ratings sit in the top forty of Derby restaurants from more than seven hundred reviews, with feedback consistently picking out fresh ingredients, generous portions and the kitchen's willingness to handle off-menu requests. The Express side of the operation is the takeaway and delivery arm of the same business, working from the same Friar Gate kitchen. The menu sticks to the recognised Bangladeshi-British classics — bhuna, balti, jalfrezi, dansak — alongside chef's specials, with starters built around tandoor work. Service is consistently mentioned in reviews as one of the strengths.