The Secret Experience

Well it has been year's in the making but I finally got myself to a secret restaurant last weekend along with my boyfriend Russ and his best mate Steve who happens to be dating my sister, Jade. Two couples, two best friends, two sisters - yet there is only four of us - go figure.

The Huddersfield based Birkby Lodge Dining Club exceeded my already high expectations.

As we drove over the pennines to our secret destination the realisation of going to a stranger's home for a meal suddenly dawned on us. We were putting a huge amount of trust into something we had limited knowledge about and actually that was quite scary! Before I pulled a U-Turn and headed to the nearest Nando's, we had arrived.

The house was a lovely white painted detached cottage, with smoke bellowing out of the chimney and a welcome sign on the door. We gathered our bottles of Tiger beer (and M&S non alcoholic cider for me, the DES for the night) and we headed, albeit slightly apprehensively, in.

From stepping through the door into a welcome seating area complete with roaring fire and ambient music, I felt at ease. We were shown by our waiter to the table for four which was beautifully set out with homemade pickles and poppadoms and a frosted glass bottle of water that would usually be an extra charge in any other restaurant.

Our waiter explained that the table was ours for the night and the chef, his wife Mithu, was working on our starters. We had already pre ordered our food from a menu of authentic Indian cuisine so we relaxed into the evening, in disbelief we were sitting in someone's living room. The large room held three other tables, the diners were obviously regulars and they resisted gawping at the surroundings. Unlike us newbies.

Without going into details of how spectacular the food was (I do want to leave some things to the imagination!) here is what we ate, all to a restaurant standard if not better, because it also had that touch of home.

Starters

Verity and Russ: Tandoori Chicken

Jade and Steve: Selection of Aubergine, Potato and Courgette Pakoras

Main

Jade and Steve: Spinach and Paneer (Asian Cheese) Curry

Verity and Russ: Lamb and Chickpea Curry

(Both options served with pilau rice, naan, side dishes of Indian coleslaw, cauliflower and pea curry and mixed dhal)

Dessert

Jade: Mango and Lemon Syllabub

Verity: Kulfi (Asian style ice cream)

Russ and Steve: Rich Chocolate Fudge Cake

The meal cost a mere £20 with £1 going to Cancer Research, it was a bargain at double the price and an experience I'll remember forever.

Down to every last detail we were looked after, even the toilets were clearly marked out by hand written chalkboard signs with a polite 'mind your head'.

Mithu joined us at the end of the evening with a well deserved glass of wine in hand. She was trying to persuade me to host my own evening but after seeing her high standard i think I'm a few years off that. But I'm completely in awe of her and all she has achieved after launching the restaurant only a few months ago.

She is keen to spread the word and asks all her guests to tell their friends! For those of you interested in seeing the Birkby Lodge Dining Club for yourself, the following dates are available.

Tapas night: Saturday 26th February 2011

Chinese Night: Friday 25th & Saturday 26th March

Great British Menu: Friday 29 & Saturday 30th April (to celebrate the royal wedding)

Viva la difference! French night: Friday 27 & Saturday 28 May

If interested get in touch with her here