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Saagar Indian Restaurant

Meera and Sunil Kumar's highly-respected basement restaurant just off St Stephen's Green is one of Dublin's longest established Indian restaurants and, although it is an old building with an interesting history (Bram Stoker, author of Dracula, once lived here), it has a contemporary feel, with wooden flooring and restrained decor - and a music system featuring the latest Indian music.

It is an hospitable place and you will be warmly welcomed - and probably offered a drink in the little bar while choosing from the menu. The cooking is consistently good, offering a wide range of speciality dishes, all prepared from fresh ingredients and considerately coded with a range of one to four stars to indicate the heat level. Thus Malai Kabab is a safe one-star dish, while traditional Lamb Balti and Lamb Aayish (marinated with exotic spices and cooked in a cognac-flavoured sauce) is a three-star and therefore pretty hot.

Beef and pork are not served but this is balanced by a good vegetarian selection, and the side dishes such as Naan breads, which are made to order in the tandoori oven, are excellent.

Customer care is a high priority here, and service is always knowledgeable and attentive. The Kumars also have restaurants in Athlone and Mullingar.

Children welcome, but not very young babies (under 1), or after 10pm. Seats 60. Toilets wheelchair accessible. L Mon-Fri, 12.30-2.30; D 6-11 daily. L&D á la carte available. House wine about €16. SC discretionary. Closed L Sat, L Sun & Christmas week. Amex, Diners, MasterCard, Visa, Laser.

Directions:

Opposite Children's Hospital on Harcourt Street (off Stephen's Green).