"Now this was one fabulous experience from the word Go. I chanced upon Lasan rather randomly, when I was in a last minute fix to reserve a table for a birthday and everything else in Birmingham seemed full or unaccommodating. Although the name seemed questionable (garlic? , I did not have many alternatives and made a quick reservation for Lasan online. I was called back within minutes to confirm and inform me that kitchens would close 30 minutes after my reservation so I should feel free to arrive early. This was a pleasant change after a slew of rude restaurateurs earlier that day. When I arrived, I was taken in by the sheer elegance of the decor. Understated and minimalistic, yet classy, the ambience is very very inviting. An offer to put my coat in a 'cloakroom ' bowled me over and evidenced what I was to expect during the next hour. This is no ordinary Indian quick bite restaurant. It is a sit-down at ease, several course fine dining experience. We were served pre-starters in the form of papad and pani puri, both delicious to begin with. Our starters arrived shortly after, and I was immediately sold on the marvellous presentation of dishes. The dahi kebab I had were delicious and yet not too filling to leave me unexcited about the mains. For mains, the Nilgiri Paneer was a seemingly small portion, but rich and filling. It was a wonderful culmination of spinach gravy and tandoori paneer, nothing like I have ever eaten before. The Pahadi Dal was a great combination of 3 lentils, again quite filling. We chose the bread basket, with assorted rotis and also a garlic and coriander naan, which was the best I have ever tasted. Soft and full of flavour, it complemented my meal beautifully. To add more value to this meal, the service here is outstanding. No complaints whatsoever on this count. Whilst I was leaving, I was asked if I wanted to call for a taxi. While these may seem like insignificant details, I have grown accustomed to the lack of adherence to the spirit of hospitality in the UK dining industry and things like these really make up for an overall incompetence. I wouldn 't call the meal cheap but with the entire experience, I was expecting a larger dent in my wallet. All in all, I am more than pleased that I stumbled upon Lasan and I am only too convinced that Gordon Ramsay did well by recommending it."
