LUX - Food & Drink Awards 2017 83 Best Indian Restaurant - Harrogate Cardamom Black is Harrogate’s premier Asian dining experience, occupying one the most iconic buildings in the beautiful Spa town of Harrogate - The Old Empire Theatre. We explore how this exclusive establishment works to offer every diner an experience they will never forget. Company: Cardamom Black Restaurant, Harrogate Name: Nick Rahman Email:
[email protected] Address: The Old Empire Theatre, 2-6 Cheltenham Parade, Harrogate, North Yorkshire, HG1 1DD, UK Telephone: 01423 313136 web: cardamomblack.co.uk Opened in December 2011, Cardamom Black Harrogate was born from the love and passion of serving great food in a truly unique environment. The building started its life as a Methodist chapel in 1872 but subsequently became the Empire Theatre in 1910 and closed in the 1920s. The building was near derelict when Cardamom Black’s owner, Nick Rahman lovingly restored it, keeping the original structure including the Grand stage area that now plays host to the large circular revolving remote-controlled table, a favourite choice for large groups and parties. Combining the strengths of two generations of restaurant experience, highly-skilled chefs and exquisite ingredients, Cardamom Black is renowned as being one of the best restaurants in Harrogate. Cardamom Black aims to offer every guest a truly exceptional experience and has played host to celebrities, such as Gareth Southgate and Ian Botham. It also provides a glamorous corporate entertainment venue where industry giants like Coca-Cola or Proctor & Gamble have held events, but primarily is a firm favourite with local and regional diners. Offering live entertainment, one of the most interesting Pan South Asian menus anywhere in England and a stunning, historical venue all combine to create a dining experience like no other. With two bar areas, a fresh fish bar, private dining facilities and conferencing as well as a grand stage area, Cardamom Black is a restaurant like no other, and is able to create an unforgettable night no matter what their visitors a looking for. The MD, Nick Rahman, personally designed nearly all the furniture, and even the crockery and steel ware used in the restaurant having flown to Dubai, India and China to the factories himself. This dedication to perfection, alongside a combined 100 years of experience in the food and drink industry highlights the fact that the management at Cardamom Black do not cut corners. Head chef Litu and his team of six chefs produce three fresh stocks every single day, the restaurant’s MD buys fresh local produce daily and the establishment never uses pastes, preservatives or carcinogens. Fresh spices are ground daily to create intense, flavourful dishes, prepared to customers exact taste. Cardamom Black takes great pride in having some of the most exquisite dishes in any Asian restaurant in the country, and as such guests can be assured of a truly authentic Indian dining experience featuring incomparable flavours and well-balanced meals. Although an Indian restaurant at heart, Cardamom Black is not what you would describe your usual ‘curry house’ and everything from the décor to the food is impressive, so much so, that the restaurant was awarded Yorkshire Evening Post’s prestigious Oliver Award for Best Indian Restaurant in 2013. Cardamom Black restaurant in Harrogate was also selected for the Best in Britain Awards as one of three exceptional Asian restaurants in the North East and listed in the top 50 Best in Britain Awards alongside some of country’s long-established and Michelin starred Asian restaurants. The extensive menu places huge emphasis on local, fresh, produce combined with the accomplished skills of the chefs, who take the flavours and styles of the different regions of India, Pakistan and Bangladesh. Combined this helps create the unique Pan-South Asian menu with the restaurant adding its own twists on classics and original creations. Thanks to a resurgence in the pub culture within the UK dining market, Cardamom Black has created a glorious Gin Library and a 200-bottle spirit bar, as well as introducing some special Craft Beers to entice customers to spend their ‘social drinking time’ at the restaurant. Another key development within the food and drink market over recent years has been the increased focus on home delivery, and as such Cardamom Black have also invested heavily in logistics for its own home delivery service and to facilitate a unique Off License. Moving forward, Cardamom Black are keen to remain at the forefront of emerging developments in the food and drink market which will increase exposure for the restaurant, and the team are excited for the opportunities this will bring. “Cardamom Black aims to offer every guest a truly exceptional experience and has played host to celebrities, such as Gareth Southgate and Ian Botham. It also provides a glamorous corporate entertainment venue where industry giants like Coca- Cola or Proctor & Gamble have held events, but primarily is a firm favourite with local and regional diners.”