EATING out in St Austell is fast offering the chance to have a culinary world tour and the number of countries which can be ticked off has increased with the recent opening of the Nepalese Gurkha Restaurant, writes Richard Whitehouse.

Found in what has previously been a gym and a snooker hall it has added to the number of eateries which can be found in the town centre.

Offering authentic Nepalese and Indian food the restaurant is nicely decorated in a smart, modern style.

With Nepalese music playing discreetly in the background we were treated to a platter of starters which included paneer pakoda, a delightful fried cheese in a light batter mixed with Himalayan spices and yak roll which were spring rolls stuffed with cheese, spring onions, garlic and coriander with a sweet Nepalese sauce.

These were accompanied by a sheek kebab which had been cooked with some Nepal spices.

It was a satisfying starter with some rich flavours and delicate spices which were a sign of things to come.

With this being a Nepalese restaurant it would be a bit of a cop out to go for an Indian main course of balti or tikka masala dish so we opted for those which we hadn't tried before.

Top of the list was the khasi aloo which was a fragrant dish of goat and potatoes cooked in a medium hot sauce.

With Nepal sitting on the border of China and India there are clear influences from both in the cuisine. While you get the rich spicy flavours associated with Indian food there is also a delicate perfumed taste which is more associated with Chinese dishes.

It's a good mix and ensures that the food is not quite as heavy as traditional Indian.

We also tried two fish dishes which were beautifully cooked with the fish flaking nicely under the spicy sauce which covered it. This was accompanied by some Nepalese special fried rice which gave the meal a Chinese touch.

As well as the Nepalese dishes there is a full range of traditional Indian curries on offer as well as a wide variety of vegetable dishes.

The Gurkha Restaurant is a delightful addition to the choices for eating out in St Austell town centre and the prices are extremely reasonable as well.

Where: Nepalese Gurkha Restaurant, 9 Grants Walk, St Austell

When: Lunch: noon to 2.30pm. Dinner: 6pm to 11.30pm

Price: Starters from £2.30, mains from £4.95, sides from £2.95 and rice/bread from £1.50

Parking: Nearby town centre car park – free after 6pm

Contact: 01726 67390