Our last evaluation of the Sultan was ten months ago, when we thought: "Dining experiences at this restaurant are inclined to vary from month to month, perhaps depending on which chef is working: we've had some fine meals here, and some merely average: we suggest that you try it out for yourselves and contact us with your verdict." Also: "...the standard seems to have slipped a little, as we were not as impressed this time."

They've improved things again. We gave marks ranging from the mediocre to the very good.

The starters were well above average. We had onion bhaji (£1.20), mushroom pakora (£1.50), veg pakora (called onion pakora on the menu, for some reason, £1.20), and chicken pakora (£2.50). The mushroom pakora were good - not of the whole mushroom variety, but nicely spiced and fresh. The chicken pakora was crispy and succulent. (The prices of the starters, and many of the main meals, have remained the same since our last visit. The exception was the chicken bhuna - which is now 50p cheaper!)

For some reason we were in a daal mood tonight, with four of us ordering the daal tarkah. It was of the channa daal variety, and piquantly but not too forcefully spiced - perfect, in fact - with not a drop of ghee in evidence. I rated mine as one of the best daals I'd sampled in months. Other diners were not as happy - one or two thought the dish a little dry and stodgy - but overall it was well-liked. The vegetable bhuna was also enjoyed, a dryish dish with a plentiful variety of fresh vegetables. The chicken bhunas were described as, "comprising of a thick rich sauce, with small pieces of chicken. The chicken pakora was succulent chicken in a spicy crisp batter." Of his meal JohnS thought, "All the food was acceptable if not outstanding. The seek kebabs were the least impressive - standard slightly bland taste, although the texture was good. The Chicken Bhuna was better - nice and dry, good full flavour and a heat that built up as I ate it. I would certainly go back for another of those. As for the rest the coffee was predictably crap and the decor pretty poor..."

Overall, another decent meal. The sultan is an above average restaurant with a nice, intimate atmosphere and quick, friendly, efficient service. We'd recommend that our readers give it a go and e-mail us with comments.

(All dishes are served with a choice of chapattis, roti or rice.)

We last reviewed the Sultan a just under six months ago, when we wrote: "All in all, we were pleasantly surprised by the renewed high standard of the fare on offer at the Sultan." I recall that it was a distinct improvement on our visit before that. However, the standard seems to have slipped a little, as we were not as impressed this time.

We started with onion bhaji (£1.20), vegetable samosas (£1.20 for two), and mushroom pakora (£1.50). They were as good as we recalled from last time: fresh, piping hot, crisp and spicy, and the portions were decent too.

I had a vegetable rogan josh, which while perfectly acceptable was not the best example of this dish that I've tasted. The vegetables were cut a little large, and lacked variety, though the taste was pleasant and reasonably hot. The dall tarkah was not up to the high standard we raved about six months ago: again, though well above average, it lacked the piquancy of the last dall: it was a little bland and lacked zing. The meat rogan josh contained good big chunks of tender, well-spiced quality meat, and was described as excellent, while the chicken bhuna was: "Above, average, very good quality chicken in a rich, thick sauce."

The Sultan is a small, intimate, almost cosy restaurant, seating no more than 25 people; the service is fast, friendly and efficient. The menu this time, however, (never vast nor varied in the past) is even more minimal now. Dining experiences at this restaurant are inclined to vary from visit to visit, perhaps depending on which chef is working: we've had some fine meals here, and some merely average: we suggest that you try it out for yourselves and contact us with your verdict.

(All dishes are served with a choice of chapattis, roti or rice.)

We last reviewed the Sultan a little under a year ago, and then we wrote: "We can recall a time when the Sultan was the best restaurant on Lumb Lane - we're not sure that we'd make the same claim now. The curries were not up to the high standard of our last visit, or our visits before that."

Well, delighted to report, things seems to be improving: we had an excellent meal there this time.

It's a small, intimate, almost cosy restaurant, seating no more than 25 people; the service is fast, friendly and efficient. (Check out the paintings of the tigers on the back wall: does one have a human face?)

We started with onion bhaji (£1.20), vegetable samosas (£1.20 for two), mushroom pakora (£1.50), and potato pakora (£1.20 - but not on the menu). They were uniformly excellent, hot, crisp, and succulent. In the past good starters have not always indicated a good curry to follow, but we need not have worried in this case.

Though the menu is very limited, the chef will customise dishes and combine ingredients. My dall vegetable was not on the menu, but they agreed to make it up for me - and superb it was. The vegetables were varied and plentiful, and the daal of the toor variety - larger than the small, bead-like daal they served here in the past. (I gave my daal dish only five points last time). I asked for my dish apna-style, and while it was pleasantly hot, it wasn't overpowering; the individual vegetables, and spices, could be tasted. It was one of the best dishes I've sampled in a long time. The two daal tarkahs were enjoyed, too. The lentils were cooked to perfection in a pungent sauce, and the portions of all the dishes this time - (a complaint in the past was the small portions served at this restaurant) - were generous. The keema karahi was a rich, fragrant dish, though a little on the mild side. The chapattis were excellent.

All in all, we were pleasantly surprised by the renewed high standard of the fare on offer at the Sultan. If you're a daal fan, try the tarka; if you're a self-respecting curry-holic in general, then we'd recommend giving this establishment a try. We'll be back in time to see if the high standard has been maintained.

(All dishes are served with a choice of chapattis, roti or rice.)

We last reviewed the Sultan over two years ago. On our last visit I wrote: "The Sultan's curries combine the taste of more expensive restaurants (rich, milder dishes) with reasonable prices. The range of dishes we sampled provoked rave notices along with more subdued satisfaction." While we'd still contend that the curries on offer are of god value, we feel that the standard has slipped a little in the interim. Certainly no-one raved about their meals this time.

We started with chicken pakora (£2.50), onion bhaji (90p), potato pakora (90p), and vegetable samosas (90p). They were pretty average: they tasted okay, but were soggy and a little under-done - definitely warmed up, not freshly cooked.

My dall and mushroom (not on the menu, but made to order) was pretty grim: it was very dry, the small, bead-like lentils flavourless, and the portion of mushroom was microscopic. The spinach and potatoes was just above average, a rather mild dish using tinned ingredients. The chicken bhuna was only average, not very sophisticated, and the chicken pieces were small and scrappy. The chicken pathia would have scored more points, but for the poor quality of the chicken. It had a well-rounded, well-spiced flavour, and the portion was very good.

We finished with very good coffee at 80p a cup.

We can recall a time when the Sultan was the best restaurant on Lumb Lane - we're not sure that we'd make the same claim now. The curries were not up to the high standard of our last visit, or our visits before that. Perhaps we arrived on an off-night - we'll be back to give it another go in a few months.

(All dishes are served with a choice of chapattis or rice.)

The Sultan is a small, pleasant restaurant with the atmosphere and décor of an upmarket establishment - though the prices are, if not the cheapest in town, then very reasonable.

Our starters, onion bhaji (90p) and potato pakora (90p), were nothing more than average - the bhaji hard and overcooked and lacking in onions. They gave no indication of the quality of the main meal. I had a vegetable karai, which came in a balti dish - an affectation I find irritating as the bowl is often dangerously hot. The dish was rich and full-flavoured, though perhaps a little on the ghee-laden side. I sampled the other vegetable dishes and found each to be different and individually flavoured. The vegetable dopiaza was reported to be excellent, as was the dal mushroom masala - both highly recommended. On the down side, the chicken jalfrezi and dal tarka both earned low points.

The Sultan's curries combine the taste of more expensive restaurants (rich, milder dishes) with reasonable prices. The range of dishes we sampled provoked rave notices along with more subdued satisfaction. We've dined here three or four times in the past, and always left satisfied. (The menu is not the most extensive, especially for vegetarians, but they will mix and combine ingredients to produce customised curries.) The Sultan is perhaps the best curry house in the area.

For some reason - we'd like to know why - they have a notice stating that no hot drinks will be served after 10pm.

(All dishes come with a choice of three chapattis, two tandoori roti, or boiled rice.)