The Spice Lounge

You're walking down Friar Gate towards the city centre and The Spice Lounge sits there doing proper, unfussy Indian food without any pretence. The kitchen clearly respects their ingredients—they're not drowning everything in cream or playing it safe with flavour. You'll find regulars here who've been coming for years, which tells you something about consistency. The room itself is warm without trying too hard, the kind of place where you can have a serious meal or just turn up with mates for a casual night out. Nearly 750 reviews averaging 4.5 stars suggests Derby's got faith in what they're doing.