I tried new Leicester restaurant Varanasi and left completely blown away

Shredded lamb curry at Varanasi, Leicester
-Credit: (Image: LeicestershireLive)


Varanasi is more than just a meal – it is an experience. My partner and I braved the storms on Saturday night to visit the Indian restaurant, which opened in Leicester’s High Street at the start of the year.

From the moment you walk through the ornate doors, it’s easy to forget you’re in Leicester. We were met by a lady in traditional dress who checked our booking, offered to take our damp coats, and then we were escorted down into the opulently decorated dining room, lit by candles in every direction I looked.

Once we were seated, we were offered a wine list and asked if we wanted papadums and water for the table – all three of which we gratefully accepted. Our waiter for the evening, Tas, introduced himself and offered guidance on the menu should we need it.

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My partner and I have been to Varanasi once before, for our anniversary in May, and, in my arrogance, I thought I had the menu nailed. On our first visit, while everything was beautifully cooked, my starter and my partner’s main were the stars of the show and, thinking it simply could not get better than that, I ordered both again. Taking one for the team, my partner decided to opt for new dishes so we could more widely comment on the food on offer.

I’ll admit, I have thought longingly of my pani puri starter countless times in the four months since our last visit and raved about them to friends and family. So there was a small part of me that was worried I’d built them up too much in my mind – could they really be as good as I remembered?

Put simply, they were. Delightfully crispy hollow balls, filled with an intoxicating mixture of purées and tangy chutney, and accompanied by a dish of spicy mint and coriander water. On our first visit, our waitress that night, Julie, saw me regarding it with some confusion over how to go about sampling it, and kindly came to my rescue.

Pani puri at Varanasi
I'm in love with Varanasi's pani puri -Credit:LeicestershireLive

The mint water goes into the crispy ball and then you whip it up into your mouth whole before it can spill everywhere. The explosion of flavours, every one both perfectly melded and yet providing something new and unique to every mouthful, is one of the most joyful food experiences I’ve ever had.

My partner opted for the king prawn starter which came with mango and mint salsa. The breaded prawn was cooked to perfection, a satisfying crunch to the outside and beautifully succulent prawn in the middle. They were also impressively big bits of seafood. The two dips complimented each other delightfully and we were both left incredibly happy after our first courses.

Our mains then: shredded lamb with Kashmiri herbs and spices for me and king prawn bhuna with potato for my seafood obsessed partner. We were both advised that our curries came with a medium level of spiciness, with Tas making sure we were happy with that.

As previously mentioned, my partner ordered my lamb dish on our previous visit and I did not think their curries could get better than that. Rich, hearty, generously meaty, the spices and chilli singing in your mouth, and served in a large papadum into which the juices and sauce soaked to imbue it with all the flavours of the dish. It was exactly what I wanted on a cold, miserable night.

King prawn bhuna with pilau rice at Varanasi
King prawn bhuna with pilau rice at Varanasi -Credit:LeicestershireLive

Until, that is, I tried my partner’s bhuna and somehow, despite the sheer perfection of everything else I had eaten that evening, Varanasi managed to outdo itself again. Once more, I was left with food envy.

The prawns were again big, succulent pieces that could not have been better cooked if they tried. They were coated in a tomato-based sauce which came with a nice kick that didn't overpower the medley of spices running through it and big chunks of potato to mop it all up with.

My partner’s verdict: “It was the single most glorious thing I've ever eaten.” He also ordered the pilau rice to go with it which apparently was so good it took me asking how his main was for him to remember there was also curry on his plate.

Our bill came to £114 for papadums, two starters and mains, a portion of rice and a bottle of wine. It is not the cheapest place to eat, but I would argue it was worth every penny we spent and I think has become our new go-to restaurant for special occasions. We both agreed it was the best meal we have ever had.

I could – and probably will – rave endlessly about the food we were served, so it is quite the statement for me to say that the dishes themselves were actually the second most impressive part of the evening. The service at Varanasi ticks boxes that I didn’t even know existed until that night.

King prawn starter at Varanasi
King prawn starter at Varanasi -Credit:LeicestershireLive

It was beyond impeccable. I got up to go to the toilet and came back to my cushion on my chair plumped and Tas pulling my seat out for me to sit back down.

Our waitress from our first visit, Julie, saw us and came over to say hello and how nice it was to see us again. Four months on, probably hundreds of customers later, and she recognised us and made the effort to say hello.

Our drinks did not run empty once that evening – and it was not just the wine glasses which were refilled for us but our water glasses too. And when we finished our mains and pleaded off desserts because we were just too full to squeeze in another bite, we were presented with warm cloths to wipe our hands accompanied by hand cream.

Varanasi, then, is an incredible operation with flawless food and staff who give 120 per cent. This is a restaurant worthy of London, Milan, Paris or New York, and we are lucky enough to have it in our High Street.

Our rating: 6/5 this was not just a perfect meal, this went beyond any restaurant we have ever visited

Official food hygiene rating: 4/5

Varanasi did not know we were visiting, and we paid for our meal.