9 Cellars Restaurant & Bar

Whatever you do at the 9 Cellars Indian restaurant in the heart of Edinburgh, do not, repeat, do not attempt to order naan bread. Or balti. None of them is Authentic. And 9 Cellars takes huge pride in the authenticity of its Southern Indian cuisine - the star-studded chef PC Thakur has a wall full of honours for his skill in creating true Indian fare. There really are nine cellars here, as well as an almost ground-level dining room, all bright and cheery, with light woods and turquoise details to see off any suggestion of dankness. What can you order? Well, the starters include familiar samosas and kebabs and fascinating stuff like subz pakor, or veggie fritters with tamarind and date chutney. Mains include classic chicken tikka masala and lamb rogan josh, and also babli handi, or lamb cooked with veg and flavoured with rum. Don't skip the dosas, with four fillings to choose from. The deep-fried okra is a wow, too, and there is a raft of vegetarian dishes to please every palate.

The chef for 9 Cellars Restaurant & Bar, PC Thakur, recently won the 2007 International Indian Chef of the Year competition.