Scene Indian Kitchen

Leftbank, Spinningfields, Manchester

Scene is an Indian restaurant which specialises in authentic street food. It offers something a little bit different from your traditional Indian restaurant, including Thali lunch boxes and Indian samosa burgers, which sound more than a little intriguing.

Tucked away on Leftbank, a quieter area of the bustling dining and drinking hub that is Spinningfields, this halal restaurant has numerous different spaces which allow catering for parties and corporate events. The main dining room captures the spirit of the subcontinent, with shack-style booth seating and artwork from Mancunian artists adorning the walls.  

The front-of-house Garden Veranda delivers street food bites, decadent desserts and shisha from 4.00pm onwards, whilst the Riverside Terrace plays host to barbecues in the summer.

We visited scene at lunchtime on a Bank Holiday Monday. It was surprisingly quiet for the Spring Bank Holiday, but it made for a relaxing lunch.

Scene was sold to me on the premise of their lunchtime offering: Thali plates. This is the cornerstone of Indian street food and is enjoyed regularly both on the streets and in homes on the subcontinent. It’s essentially an Indian buffet for one, showcasing a range of aromas, textures and flavours with several small dishes served on a platter in katori bowls.

Here’s how it works. A curry dish sits at the heart of your platter. You can choose from Karahi, a spicy dish prepared with capsicum peppers, prepared with chicken, lamb or vegetables, Makhani, a creamy dish cooked with tomatoes and butter, and a spiced chickpea curry. Look out for the chilli ratings on the menu, as they’re all described as being ‘medium’ or ‘hot’. I ordered the Mixed Vegetable Karahi but requested a mild version, which they were happy to make.

Once you’ve picked your main course, you can leave the rest of the meal up to the chef. Alongside your curry is a poppadum and a yoghurt and lime dip, an onion bhaji, one of the best I’ve ever had, chopped salad, brown pilau rice, a mini Naan bread and a vegetable speciality.

Thali Lunch Platter

The onion bhaji was perfectly cooked, one of the best I’ve ever tasted and the yoghurt and lime dip was zingy, creamy and refreshing. It complimented the spiciness of the curry extremely well, making it much easier for a delicate palate such as mine.

I’ve never had brown pilau rice with an Indian meal before but I actually preferred it to the white alternative. It was much lighter and less stodgy with more taste. I can take or leave Naan bread, especially a plain one, but it’s nice to have something to mop up all the tasty sauces from the dishes.

I love the concept of the Thali lunch boxes. It’s an entirely different way to experience Indian dining. It’s always nice to be able to try a range of different flavours, rather than restricting yourself to one curry, and having lots of little bits means you’re not overly full. It’s an ingenious idea for lunchtime. Priced at just £8.95 for my platter, including a soft drink, it was sensational value, meaning you can enjoy an exotic lunch at a far from exotic price.

The Thali boxes aren’t the only unique meals served at Scene. The lunch menu also offers burgers with an Indian twist as east meets west. One of my dining companions had the Ultimate Chicken and Samosa Burger: a grilled chicken patty and a vegetable samosa in a bun with melted cheese, Indian sauces and salad. It was towered high and very tasty. It wasn’t too spicy but had a distinctive Indian flavour. It was also refreshing to see a burger served on a good old-fashioned seeded bun. When did brioche become a pre-requisite?

Ultimate Chicken Samosa Burger

Indian restaurants tend not to make much of an effort with their desserts, but at Scene there’s a range of traditional Indian sweets, including Gulab Jumin, a milk-based dessert flavoured with almonds, and Gulab Jaman Cheesecake, an Indian take on my all-time favourite. Sadly, after demolishing the Thali box, I was too full to fit one in, but there’s always next time.

If you want to add a little bit of spice to your lunch hour, Scene is the perfect place to tuck into an alternative to your sandwiches. It’s a completely different way to experience Indian cuisine. It’s sensational value too. You’d pay the same price for a sandwich and a coffee at most of these trendy coffee shops.

Daytime and evening menus are all available here:  https://www.scenedining.com/menus/

Email: mgfoodie100@gmail.com