If you see someone wandering through the Crookes area with a pint of beer in their hand, you can be fairly sure they're heading for Indian Chef. You can take drinks bought from the nearby Ball Inn into the restaurant or bring a bottle of wine or two from home if you prefer (there's no charge for corkage). Once inside the small, open-plan dining area, you can order from an extensive choice of reasonably priced dishes: a starter won't set you back more than £2.50, and a very pleasant chicken tikka kurma costs around £6. The quality of food is excellent but furnishings are simple and as this isn't in the city centre it isn't the kind of restaurant visitors tend to discover for themselves. Locals and students form the core of the evening clientèle, although the daytime opening hours also make this an interesting business lunch option.