Let's take a trip to India... For the curry lovers of this world, Bhoj is a must! I discovered Indian food back in the late 70s and have travelled many a country, state and city sampling the delights of India, improvised and so-called 'authentic'. But nothing comes close to the food served at Bhoj on the Oxford Road.

The Singh family, headed by Updesh Singh, have a passion and secret that they unselfishly share with the world. It is yet to be discovered by the rest of us but I have a sneaking feeling that it won't be a secret for long. Updesh, from the Punjab region of Northern India, threw caution to the wind and followed his heart by opening Bhoj restaurant.

This is not your average Indian restaurant and it is truly aimed at the taste buds of lovers of Indian cuisine. This place will not disappoint and I can almost guarantee that you will be returning to sample more and more of the food. We were presented with a variety of starters, the first being the murgh hariyali tikka, succulent skewered chicken, marinated in coriander, it melted in the mouth. Next was Bhoj saffroni paneer tikka, cubes of Indian cottage cheese marinated in yoghurt and saffron. The combination was delightful. To complete our starters we could not resist the onion bhaji, which were crisp and moist, full of flavour, but not at all oily.

Rara lamb was my choice of mains and this was a brilliant combination of tender lamb pieces and minced lamb. Mouthwatering aromas, then bold and robust flavours that give you a sense that this is something unique, almost the feeling that it was cooked specially for me.

The Goan fish curry was another masterpiece, delicate flavours did not overpower the fish, with a fine combination of spices and herbs. We also decided to try mushroom fried rice and this was a favourite from the first taste, with a zesty and dynamic explosion of flavours that complimented each dish. Try it, you'll like it.

Palak paneer is without doubt a superb dish that the Singh family are proud of. Once again, they have it right! The spinach is fresh, the cheese is moist, creamy and the entire dish just magnificent. So is the daal bhukara, black lentils cooked slowly in butter and cream, which was so good we were fighting over it!

"Traditional cooking" is a term used loosely these days, but at Bhoj I can honestly say that I believe that these are the same dishes that the Singh family eat at home, with the difference being that these are prepared by a professional chef.

This is a small and very intimate restaurant that is beginning to make it's mark in the community. The investment has wisely been focused on the cuisine, the food and the chef. Very soon the restaurant will go through a decor transformation, but in the meantime, the love and passion from the Singh family warrants a visit or even a takeaway sooner rather than later.

They are down-to-earth, hard-working people that have a love for food and what they do. Their goal is to share what they know, what they have enjoyed for many, many years, and to bring it out to our tables. There is a caring and enthusiastic attitude that is second to none and without any doubt it is felt by all of the patons.

Treat yourselves to a true and honest meal of Northern Indian cuisine at Bhoj.