Amir Restaurant is one of those tucked-away restaurants that deserve a much higher profile.

That is because it is a real treat for lovers of Indian food.

Warm, welcoming and quite intimate, it has been sitting pretty in Binfield for 15 years.

It does literally sit there prettily, with sunny lemon walls, blinds and napery, and delicate carved screens between tables so diners have some privacy despite its modest size.

Amir is under the same ownership as flower-bedecked Koh-I-Noor in Bracknell, also a place where appearances matter, and Binfield customers can rely on getting the same warm welcome as they do in that popular venue – manager Tariq has been at Amir for a long, long time and is friendly and efficient, as are all the staff.

He is also very knowledgeable about the menu and keen to offer helpful advice, which is great if you fancy trying something new.

And whether you are in an adventurous mood or seeking an old favourite, you will find it at Amir.

The menu is well laid out, with clear explanations of each section – for example “Jeera Dishes, medium spiced dishes cooked with cumin seeds, black pepper and spices – but it isn’t so extensive it is daunting and takes an hour to get to grips with.

The range is good, from everybody’s favourite massala to something a little different, like a lamb bone curry that has been going down a storm since it was introduced recently.

And whatever you choose, you can rest assured your palate will be excited.

Dishes at Amir are cooked with a light, modern touch and spices are blended by a very deft hand, so flavours remain distinct.

I have just enjoyed a takeaway (just to make sure standards haven’t slipped since my last visit, you understand) and every mouthful was as tasty as I remembered.

Delicate Nepal Chicken was a creamy new discovery for my korma-loving daughter, while Razzala Chicken, rich (but not heavy) with red wine, onions, peppers and tomatoes, was an all-round hit.

It isn’t something I have ordered before but I will do when I am at Amir again, because it was delicious.

Lamb Khatta Massala with its sour tamarind bite also made me very happy, especially against the lemon rice that actually had a really lemony zing.

I have ordered lemon rice in the past elsewhere that has been a wimpy disappointment, but Amir’s hits the spot as a superb contrast to a curry.

Mushroom Bhaji made with a light touch was an excellent foil to the snappier spices.

And when it came to something to mop up those delicious sauces, the Pizza Nan stuffed with cheese, chicken tikka and onion ticked all of Harriet’s culinary boxes at once.

Full marks also has to go to this restaurant for the way it can deal with special diets.

One of my daughters cannot tolerate wheat or dairy products and Tariq not only knew what was in every dish straight away, he asked chef to adapt a couple so she didn’t miss out.

She rarely finds service that good and eats too many salads to keep a foodie happy.

Amir is open from midday until 2pm, and from 6pm to 11.30pm seven days a week.

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