Chester’s Lounge Sunderland: celebrating 3 years of modern Indian cuisine

By Ania Askwith

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Chester’s Lounge, 141 Chester Road, Sunderland, SR4 7HS

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Best for: Modern dining, authentic Indian cuisine, dining in Sunderland, unique cocktails in Sunderland, curry in Sunderland, Indian food in Sunderland

Chester’s Lounge is a place that will impress anyone who loves Indian cuisine with a modern twist. We’ve been fans since our first visit—read our last review here.

Celebrating Chester’s third anniversary

On our most recent visit, we celebrated the third anniversary of this lovely venue, and I can happily say that their food and service continue to impress, maintaining the same excellent standards we’ve experienced so far.

Menu highlights at Chester’s Lounge

As usual, the menu at Chester’s Lounge didn’t disappoint. They blend traditional Indian dishes with unique, creative touches, making it an exciting place to dine. And as always, the cocktail menu elevates the overall experience. I forgot how great they were until I had a sip! So, so good!

The staff are incredibly welcoming and go the extra mile to ensure you’re well taken care of, advising on dishes and cocktails you may enjoy. Since we’re now regular customers here, I am always happy to go with their recommendations— and they’re spot on!

As we’ve tried a variety of menu items previously, we decided to go for something new this time.

• Dips & Poppadoms

But of course, we couldn’t skip the pickle tray and dips. I still remember how delicious their onion salad was, so I was pretty excited to have it again. I’m sure I don’t need to convince anyone to start their meal with a pickle tray, but if you have any doubts—I’d definitely recommend it here. Perfect for snacking while deciding what to order!

Starters

• Dynamite Prawns
  Juicy king prawns coated in a rich paneer sauce—mild, creamy, and absolutely delicious. I normally go for something spicy, but these creamy prawns are so delicious that I’m not missing the spice at all. I’d order this again… and again!

• Chester’s Mixed Platter
  A real feast of starters, perfect for sharing (I say this because it wasn’t my choice, so I was the one bargaining with Ryan to share with me, ha!). This platter had chicken tikka, lamb chop, sheek kebab, king prawn, and spiced potatoes. A little bit of everything, ideal if you want to get a taste of the place. I tried the potatoes, and they were UNREAL. A little spicy and crispy, I could have had a portion of just those all to myself! Soooooo good.

Mains

• 8-Hour Lamb Shank, Slow-cooked until super tender, this lamb shank was marinated overnight and stir fried with lightly spiced onions and peppers. Served with a choice of rice or naan, it’s a really hearty dish. I wasn’t sure one person would manage this portion, but nothing was left on the plate, so I guess it was too good not to finish, even though the portion was absolutely huge.

• Boujee King Prawns. One of the most popular dishes here, and I can see why! Obviously, this was my choice, and I was so happy with it. Tiger king prawns cooked with olive oil, wild garlic, peppers, and mango chutney, all brought together with the chef’s own secret sauce. Served with rice or naan—I went for mushroom rice, which paired perfectly. The prawns were cooked beautifully—it’s not easy to find a place that serves king prawns cooked perfectly, and these guys do it just right. A beautiful dish. Again, even though it isn’t a spicy dish – which is what I’d normally go for – I didn’t mind it because the flavours were really delicious. I absolutely agree that this dish is a must try.

Sides

• Plain Naan – Soft and fluffy, great for scooping up sauces. Although I enjoyed it on its own before I even tucked into my main, I just can’t get enough of this naan.

• Garlic Chips – We had these before on staff recommendations, and we will never go to Chester’s and not order this dish. It is absolutely packed with garlicky goodness, and the potatoes were stunning! A simple dish but done so well – I have no idea how they do it!! We both really love it.

Dessert

• Magnum Brownie. A rich Belgian chocolate brownie, topped with a Magnum ice cream bar. The ultimate indulgence. Again, it’s one of those menu items we’ve had before, and it is too good not to have again! And again, and again! Have you seen the steam coming off the hot brownie, with the ice cream melting on top? It’s gorgeous in both texture and taste. And I love a bit of theatre as you cut through the layers. Beautiful.

• Karak Chai. A huge portion of steaming hot karak chai—we love to end a nice meal with some mild, spiced chai, and this one here is lovely. A perfect end to the meal.

The amazing cocktails at Chester’s Lounge

And you can’t visit Chester’s Lounge without trying their cocktails. I’m still telling anyone who will listen about their mango lassi and pina colada I had last time we visited. So it was time to try some new drinks!

• Sour Apple. A refreshing mix of apple, lime, sugar, mint, vodka, rum, and lemonade. Sweet, sharp, and super easy to drink. And have you seen the presentation? Wow!

• Passion Fruit & Mango Ice Blast. Mango and passion fruit purée blended with sugar, lime juice, rum and vodka. Like a tropical slushie—I asked for mine without alcohol, and it was gorgeous. I could easily drink this all night (although I’d probably leave with a massive sugar rush!).

• Siri’s Specials. The guys at Chester’s Lounge are super creative and constantly come up with new drinks—you can find them under specials. When we visited, they had just introduced:

• Kiwi Wzrd – A zingy, fruity mix with fresh kiwi. It was like eating a fizzy kiwi—super tasty. 10/10 recommend.

• Lychee Spritz – Light, floral, and super refreshing. Again, I made mine alcohol-free. I’m a big fan of lychee cocktails (or mocktails), and this one was delicious. You could really taste the flavour of the lychee. I would happily order this again (and if they have it on the menu when we visit again—I will!).

Why we keep coming back

• Three years strong: Even after three years, the food and service are as excellent as ever. The staff are incredibly attentive, and their recommendations are always on point. It’s a top notch experience every time you visit. Even though it was super busy with it being their anniversary, we didn’t have to wait long for our food or drinks.

• Creative twists: Chester’s Lounge takes traditional Indian dishes and infuses them with innovative flavours, making each dish quite exciting.

• Signature cocktails: The cocktails here are in a league of their own. We really enjoy them, and what’s amazing is that because they’re made fresh with quality ingredients, each cocktail can be made into a mocktail without compromising on taste. As someone who isn’t a big drinker, I really appreciate this. Mocktails that taste like a grown up drink and not just juice.

• Welcoming vibe: The atmosphere is warm and inviting, and the staff truly make you feel at home. We love how they add their own twist to traditional Indian flavours and classic cocktails.

Location:

Chester’s Lounge is located at 141 Chester Road, Sunderland, SR4 7HS. There is loads of parking available on the side streets nearby.

Tips for visiting:

• Book ahead: This place gets busy, especially on weekends, so it’s best to reserve a table in advance. We always book, and whenever we visit – the place fills up quickly.

• Try the cocktails: Don’t miss out on their creative drinks. And if you’re a designated driver, their mocktails are just as delicious!

• Opening hours: Chester’s Lounge is open daily from 5:00 pm to 10:30 pm for dining in, pick-up, and delivery.

• Try something new and be prepared to rethink how you see Indian food– these guys are very creative so go for something you’d not had before! I am pretty sure you will not regret it!

If you love discovering things to do, places to go, and the best spots to eat and drink in the North East and beyond, be sure to follow my blog for more reviews, recommendations, travel tips, and hidden gems. And for a closer look at my day-to-day experiences, follow me on Instagram @ania.askwith for behind-the-scenes content and even more discoveries! Let’s explore together!

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