Mumbai Blues

Mumbaikars and Geordies alike find common ground at Mumbai Blues, a biryani specialist in Newcastle that treats its layered rice dishes with the reverence they deserve. This is no afterthought curry house—the kitchen here understands that a great biryani is a meditative build of spiced meat, fragrant rice, and slow steam. The menu stretches into proper curries and tandoori grills too, giving you plenty of reasons to return beyond that first glorious forkful.

The biryanis arrive with that telltale dum-pukht aroma, the rice light and separate, the meat tender enough to yield without a fight. A chicken tikka masala here leans rich and tomato-forward, while the tandoori chicken comes blistered from the clay oven with a proper char. Order online for delivery or collection—just be prepared for the entire house to smell like cardamom and saffron long after the foil lid comes off.