International Indian restaurant The Crossing has opened its first UK site in Chapel Allerton - with 50% off food

Chapel Allerton's food scene just got another very exciting addition.

The Crossing Indian Bistro has officially opened its first UK restaurant on Harrogate Road, following locations in Paris and Nice - and Leeds diners can currently get 50% off food as part of its soft launch.

The offer is running until 31st August, giving us a very good excuse to get down there before the end of the month.

But this isn't simply another Indian restaurant opening in Leeds. The Crossing is all about exploring the huge differences between India's regional cuisines, with a menu designed to take diners across the country through dishes, ingredients and flavours that you might not ordinarily find on your local Indian menu.

Behind it is Chef-Founder Ankur Chakraborty, whose career has spanned more than two decades across Dubai, Paris and Nice. The idea behind The Crossing has its roots much further back, though.

Ankur's father worked for the Indian Railways and, as a child, he travelled across India by train with him. Those journeys introduced him to the completely different foods, flavours and cooking styles found from one region to the next, and those memories have gone on to inspire the restaurant.

That story runs right through the menu.

One of The Crossing's signatures is the Railway Lamb Curry, which pairs slow-braised lamb with a smoked rogani laal maas curry. There's also Alleppey Prawn Curry, inspired by Kerala's backwaters and made with coconut, turmeric and poached prawns, alongside Madras Mutton Pepper Fry - stir-fried curried lamb served with mini idli.

If you're more of a table-full-of-small-plates person, there's plenty to get stuck into too. Gunpowder Prawns and Kerala Fried Chicken bring plenty of southern Indian spice, while vegetarian options include Dal Moradabadi and The Crossing Chaat Bowl.

And we're particularly intrigued by the desserts.

The Mango Serradura takes inspiration from Goa's Portuguese influences, combining mango with biscuit crumbs, while the Dubai Date Toffee Pudding comes with house-made carrot halwa ice cream. Definitely not your standard end to an Indian meal.

There's another very good reason to visit at lunchtime too.

The Crossing is serving a £15 Thali, giving diners the chance to choose a main curry alongside Zeera Aloo, Saag Makai, Dal of the Day, Raita, House Pickle, steamed Basmati Rice and freshly baked Tandoor Bread, all presented in traditional silverware.

The restaurant is open from 12pm until 10.30pm, so it works just as well for a quick lunch as it does for dinner, cocktails and a table full of dishes to share.

And Chapel Allerton feels like a fitting first UK home. Already packed with brilliant independent restaurants, bars and cafés, it's become one of our favourite Leeds neighbourhoods for eating out, and The Crossing is hoping to become part of that local scene rather than simply dropping an international concept into it.

The Crossing Indian Bistro is now open at 33-39 Harrogate Road, Chapel Allerton.

The 50% off food soft-launch offer runs until 31st August, while the £15 lunchtime Thali gives us another reason to visit once the opening offer finishes.

With dishes spanning India's regions, a brilliant story behind the menu and Leeds chosen as its very first UK location, this is definitely one we'll be heading down to try.