Jewel in the Crown: 145 Crown Street, Aberdeen

WHEN it comes to curry, I know what I like – namely something to melt my face.

So I wasn’t disappointed when, after ordering a succulent lamb vindaloo (£7.50), my internal temperature rose to rival the core of the sun.

Thankfully, the heat didn’t mask the rich, savoury sauce, boosted by the flavour of cloves and fresh chilli.

The missus, on the other hand, prefers things much milder and decided to order a palak murg (£7.95). The tender chicken came in a strongly-spiced spinach sauce. The perfume of cardamom cut through the iron taste and a good helping of ghee made the whole dish buttery sweet – even if it did lack a certain freshness to lift it.

To go with our curries, we went for a vegetable pakora starter (£2.85), easily big enough to have been a main, which was flavourful if slightly stodgy.

The pilau rice (£2.45) actually tasted of saffron – a small wonder these days – and came with slices of garlic, chilli and spring onion. And a large, doughy and garlic nan (£2.95) finally fanned the flames.