Recent years have a seen a new breed of restaurant emerging in the towns and cities of our beloved North West.

New ideas, modern designs and unique themes seem to be the order of the day. The Mezbaan features all of those.

Like a good curry dish these guys took their time when they were designing this place. The waiter greeted me with a smile and showed me to a discreet table. After being offered drinks I was shown the menu which featured simple yet detailed information on the dishes on offer.

The starters were reasonably priced so I went for the Mixed Grill Platter - 2 chops/2 chicken pieces/1 reshmi kebab/1 seek kebab/2 lamb bhotis and 4 chicken wings. Now that's what I call a starter. I am so used to going into restaurants where they put two bhotis on the table and charge me a fiver!

As for the main dish - the Tawa-e-Khas, a boneless chicken cooked with chillies and onions and cooked on a tawa seemed to look the part. As did the Nihari Lamb and mixed biryani. I was going to order the Mezbaan Steak Special (a Jumbo 200g beef fillet steak) but decided against it. I definitely wouldn't have had the room.

As I waited for my dishes to arrive I decided to go for a gander. Making my way across the reception I noticed a window looking straight into the kitchen. Great, now I can see my food being made. To the back of the building there was a large hall which I was told was for special events and parties.

The food was exquisite and served relatively quickly. As for desert I went for the freshly made Kheer served in those traditional clay pots (handhee).

The owners are from Karachi and it seems they have really attempted to bring some of that big city expertise into the theme of this restaurant.

As I smoked my hookah late into the evening (oh I did I forget they even have hookahs (pipes/sheesha) for the guests) I remembered a time when restaurants were meant to make you feel special. Then I opened my eyes and realised those times are back.