Lily’s Vegetarian Indian Cuisine has earned a loyal following since its humble beginnings. The family business, from which Lily’s has been founded, began in 1972 by husband and wife Mr PG Sachdev and Mrs Lilawati ‘Lily’ Sachdev.
Selling Indian vegetarian food and sweets in the town of Ashton-under-Lyne ever since, the latest adaptation of this family-run business has seen the space undergo a long-planned expansion.
Located just over the road from their previous home, this eagerly anticipated move has allowed for Lily’s to accommodate its consistent flow of loyal diners; whilst still providing quality, regionally inspired Indian food with exceptional service.
Lily’s appeal is straight and simple. Why would you pay more?
The reviews speak for themselves. Lily’s has garnered numerous amounts of goodwill, winning awards such as Vegetarian Offering of the year 2018 and Neighbourhood Restaurant of the year 2019 at the Manchester Food & Drink Festival. Lily’s has also been named as a Local Gem in the Good Food Guide 2019; placing Lily’s among the best neighbourhood eateries in the country.
Shadowed by IKEA in Ashton – this neighbourhood gem exceeds initial expectations.
Inside the 80-cover restaurant you’ll find bold colours, commissioned artworks, spinning looms and Indian bangles, with brushed gold furnishings and golden fretwork panels. A momentous Indian street scene mural sits at the centre of the dining room, nodding to the family’s heritage.
If there’s one thing that Lily’s must be accredited for – it’s their sense of community and family-first nature, felt from the moment you step in the door.
Lily’s has sourced their experienced chefs from all over North India, South India and Rajasthan, with everything on the menu being freshly prepared by them.
To start, diners can expect dishes such as Crispy Okra (£4.50) dipped in spiced gram flour batter and fried. Alongside Crispy Bhajiya (£4.95) (thin potato slices made with a spiced gram flour batter) served with a delicious tomato, pepper and garlic chutney.
Bending the rules a little when it comes to their dining experience, enjoy Lily’s Special Signature Sizzler (£10.50) as either a starter or main. With cubes of paneer and cassava, the sizzler is packed full of flavour and textures. Sat on a bed of spicy peppers and onions, the vegetable Manchurian chunks are the perfect accompaniment to the soft, melting cheese, all piled together on top of a sizzling hot plate.
With their extensively unique menu – why not opt for a less conventional main at Lily’s with their Mysore Masala Dhosa (£5.75). Filled with a spiced potato and onion filling, the Dhosa is served alongside a warm and comforting lentil curry and 2 flavoursome chutneys.
The ideal complementary dish to the Dhosa is, for certain, the Aloo Tikki Chat (£4.95) This creamy Aloo Tikki is topped with a warm chickpea curry, onions, sweet & sour sauce and is topped with crunchy Sev (crunchy noodles made from chickpea flour paste, seasoned with turmeric, cayenne, and ajwain and deep-fried in oil) providing the perfect contrasting textures.
Famed also for its confectionery and desserts, Lily’s has provided authentic, Indian sweets for the people since its beginnings. Their signature dessert dish is the Tripti Bhog (£2.25) Surprisingly enough for 2 people, the dish made with fresh cream and milk and is a hybrid between a sponge cake and a scoop of ice cream. Topped with crushed pistachio nuts and edible silver imported from India, this is a dish which is certainly earned its reputation as value for money.
Paying homage to their past, the new space also houses the Deli (next door to their restaurant) which is complete with an ice cream counter and numerous glass cabinets which house Lily’s strikingly colourful and diverse sweet selections.
With a vast selection of vegan ice creams (including flavours such as Coconut & Passion Fruit Sorbet), customers can enjoy a scoop or two alongside their famed vegan cakes, sweets & desserts.
This December, Lily’s are also offering up their Takeaway Christmas Platter, made up of vegetable samosas, spring rolls, aloo tikki, onion bhajis, peas kachori & chutney – all for just £20.
Open as usual throughout December – Lily’s will also be opening their doors on Christmas Eve, Boxing Day & New Years Eve (from 12pm to 4pm – last orders at 3pm).
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Lily’s Indian Vegetarian Cuisine, 85 Oldham Rd, Ashton-under-Lyne, OL6 7DY
