Zouk is an award-winning restaurant and it won't let you forget it. The Tea Bar and Grill has twice won the Best Restaurant Out of Leeds in the Yorkshire Evening Post's Nightlife Awards and these wins are boasted in an immense banner hung from buildings adjoining the restaurant on Leeds Road, just inside Bradford.

It's a few doors down from Akbars, the hugely-popular Bradford and Leeds Indian eaterie, and you can't help but wonder whether this is some kind of curry-house oneupmanship.

So when Oliver visited one busy Friday night, it was with high hopes. We were already familiar with Zouk's 'theatre-style' kitchen, featuring a grill on which many of the dishes are cooked, and the special focus on seafood.

The restaurant has an excellent pedigree too. Two generations of Indian restaurateurs are behind Zouk – Amjad Bashir, known as Peter, runs the popular Kebabeesh in Greengates, Bradford.

His sons Mudassar and Tayub opened the family's latest venture, the aim being to create a contemporary eating place where you could drop in at any time and for any meal.

That relaxed atmosphere seems to extend to booking a table too. When we rang up a few days earlier, we were asked what time we'd like. After we suggested 8pm, we were told that was fine, but we might have to wait a few moments for a table to become free. "Ok, we'll come a bit later, " we said. "You might have to wait then too" was the answer.

So it was with empty stomachs and a little anxiety that we rolled up at Zouk. Thankfully we needn't have worried. We were ushered by the highly efficient staff straight to a table in the newly-opened rear of the restaurant.

Decor is modern and trendy, with some appealing-looking booths, though we were placed at a conventional table. Immediately came menus and a separate menu for the special fish dishes which the restaurant prides itself on.

Zouk's menu is a mix of traditional curry varieties with more unusual dishes. We were interested to see the Zouk Gourmet Burger and steaks on offer, and spotted one of the burgers winging its way to another table, a sure sign that they're a valuable addition rather than a gimmick.

Our order was taken efficiently, with a query about the spiciness of one dish deftly handled. However when our starters arrived it became clear the service wasn't quite that efficient – Oliver's companion had asked for the tandoori mixed grill, but it was obvious he'd got the vegetarian version instead.

We pointed the mistake out and it was quickly rectified with many apologies. A short wait followed while the meat version was prepared but despite this slip-up, we were still very happy with the service throughout.

When it arrived, the tandoori mixed grill was delicious – a medley of kebabs, chicken boti, lamb chops and drumsticks. Another starter was the panir tikka, a more unusual but successful combo of chargrilled panir Asian cheese (a bit like a milder halloumi) cooked on a skewer with peppers, onions and tomatoes. Even though it was marinated in red chilli powder, this provided a background warmth rather than a kick in the mouth.

Other appealing appetisers included the masala fish and the vegetable samosas.

Next came the mains and they were served with a flourish. After being delivered by the waiting staff, the maitre'd (or was it the owner?) announced each dish and explained a little about it – a nice touch.

My lamb passanda was advertised as "fillet of lamb battered into thin slices" and the meat was meltingly tender with a delicious sauce, thick from tomatoes and with identifiable real spices. My only complaint was it was on the salty side.

Karahi dishes are a speciality on the menu, which explains that the karahi is a cooking bowl made from iron in the Tandoori foundries of North West Pakistan.

So we also tried the special karahi, which featured chicken, lamb, mushrooms and potatoes along with tomatoes, spices, ginger, garlic and coriander.

It was delicious and on a par with – though different from – other offerings at Bradford's many Asian restaurants.

Stuffed

Other choices included handi dishes, cooked in a clay pot, and other karahi dishes.

After our mains, accompanied by naans and tandoori roti, we were stuffed and sadly couldn't try out any of the desserts. A large jug of cooling mango lassi had quenched Oliver's sweet tooth sufficiently.

Instead we paid up and headed home after an extremely personable goodbye from the man in charge – so much so Oliver wondered if our cover was blown – but then we realised he was like this with everyone.

Zouk is not expensive – under a tenner for our mains and the whole bill came to £53 including several drinks, starters and extras.

The food is tasty, well-priced and the service great. If you're looking for a spice-fest outside of Leeds, Zouk is a good bet.