A BYO bistro right across the road from an off-licence, itself in the same block as a Lounge bar? No wonder the Moorlands Road area of Bath is fast gaining des-res status. But Panahar was here long before we knew what the meaning of des-res was, it continues to thrive today. You’d be hard pressed to spend more than a tenner a head on a two-course, home-cooked Indian feast here (and still not go much above £12 if you go for a Punky the Penguin ice cream off the desserts list). A roll call of gently anglicised Indian sub-continent treats make up the menus: birianis, jalfrezis, kormas, tandoori and masalas in all their glory — familiar and reliable rather than spectacular. But the service and the ambience are what makes Panahar special. Come here on a Friday evening and you feel you’re at the epicentre of Moorlands Road life, with locals swapping gossip across the tables and students flirting with each other when they should be at home swotting.

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A-Z of Bath Restaurants • Budget restuarants • Family-friendly restaurants • Party venues • Refuelling spots