A selection of Newspaper Artilces...
THE Aakash Indian Restaurant in Cleckheaton, and proclaimed the Largest Indian Restaurant in the World, is set to re-open tonight Friday August 24. Dr Abbasali, 35, has a doctorate in chemistry gained at Oxford University, and saw the opportunity to offer healthier Indian food in an East meets West fusion style. So whether it's a sumptuous mouthwatering buffet or a cool coffee, then Aakash is for you.
DownloadOn top of that, there will be an East meets West alliance - with a Starbucks coffee shop in the lobby. We want to come up with a new menu which will offer people dishes which taste just as good as they do now but which are much more healthy for them. A healthy option curry.
DownloadIt's received huge publicity for being the largest Indian restaurant in the world, but that will now be secondary to what the owners want to offer - it's very much a new era. The owners are very excited about coming to Cleckheaton and when it's all been put together I think the people of the area are going to enjoy a really unique dining experience.
DownloadThe Mayor of Kirklees, Councillor Jean Calvert, was due to officially open the Aakash - which translates as sky - last night to a sell - out crowd who could enjoy Bollywood dancing as well as spectacular food. The Aakash, the world's largest Indian restaurant, is to reopen today.
DownloadThe Aakash was recognised as the world's largest Indian restaurant after it originally opened with 860 seats in 2001. Within three days of hearing the restaurant was on the market, a deal worth £1.7million had been struck.
It brings to an end a massive refurbishment scheme with new furnishings and a more modern decor. Mr Abbassali is delighted with the results. "It's exactly what I wanted when I bought it - and more," he said. "I'm very happy with it, but I am well aware that to make the business work, it's going to be a lot of hard work. "This has been the easy bit so far and the hard part starts here.
DownloadEveryone is thrilled with the new look restaurant which will be open from 6pm every evening with a great menu and extensive wine list including the popular Indian wine Tiger Hill. All the chefs here at Aakash cook everything in as healthy a way as possible using less butter, salt, oils etc. "To start with, for the first month, we will be offering a great buffet for just £12.95 per person.
DownloadHowever the new management has vastly overhauled the interior, installing modern furnishings and decor throughout. Keith Joplin, president of the Spenborough Chamber of Trade and Commerce, said the reopening was great news for the town of Cleckheaton He said: "In the last year we have really missed it. It has always been good news for us. Before it closed it really put Cleckheaton on the map."
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