'I tried the Northampton Indian restaurant recently crowned the best in the East Midlands – it’s easy to see why it won'

Aramintas, on Wellingborough Road, was named East Midlands Restaurant of the Year at the prestigious Asian Restaurant and Takeaway Awards (ARTA) 2026, held at the London Hilton on Park Lane on Monday (October 12).

More than 1,250 restaurants and takeaways were nominated for this year’s awards, which celebrate the food, service and achievements of businesses across the Asian hospitality industry.

So I went along to see what all the fuss was about.

Aramintas opened as a restaurant in 2022, having operated as a takeaway since it was established in 1999. The family-run business has come a long way over the past 25 years, moving from Wootton to the town centre and picking up a number of awards along the way.

Three of us headed there one weekday evening to try it for ourselves. Parking on Wellingborough Road or one of the nearby side streets was straightforward.

On arrival, we were greeted by Shahid and his colleagues, all smartly dressed in matching uniforms. The decor is dark and understated, creating a relaxed atmosphere that feels a little more special than your average curry house.

The service was friendly and attentive from the start. Poppadoms arrived at the table, and the mango chutney soon disappeared, followed by the other sauces. A good start.

For our main courses, we ordered two chicken dhansaks and a chicken tikka masala, along with pilau rice, mushroom rice, special rice and two peshwari naans.

The food was cooked fresh and was delicious. The chicken was succulent, the sauces were full of flavour and the portions were decent. They were subsequently demolished.

The restaurant serves Cobra on tap at £6 a pint, and has a carefully put-together wine list, with an emphasis on local wine merchants.

We spent around 90 minutes there, enjoying the food and the relaxed surroundings, although there is no reason you couldn't settle in for a longer evening, particularly at the weekend. It also makes for a good starting point for a night out in town or just along the Welli Road.

The bill came to around £75 for the three of us.

Aramintas has got the appearance right. It is smart, stylish and comfortable, but importantly, the food and service back it up.

The restaurant's approach is rooted in Indian and Bangladeshi cooking, with recipes drawing on traditional flavours and a range of spices. Executive chef Shamim Choudhury leads the kitchen, bringing experience and a contemporary touch to the menu.

It is easy for a restaurant to look the part, but the real test is what arrives at the table. On our visit, Aramintas delivered on both fronts.

All in all, we are lucky to have this family-run gem in Northampton. Its award is a welcome recognition of a business that has been serving the area for years, and after eating there ourselves, I can understand why it has been getting noticed.

If you enjoy a good curry in smart surroundings, Aramintas is well worth a visit. They also host on Christmas day, for those who don’t fancy cooking this year.

Don’t just take my word for it… The restaurant has a 4.2 out of five star rating from over 300 Google reviews.

One local guide on Google said: “Some of the best Indian food I’ve ever had at Aramintas. Authentic, flavorful, and well worth a visit. Will definitely return!”

Another reviewer said: “We booked this restaurant for a colleague’s retirement dinner as a large group, and it couldn’t have been a better choice. From the moment we arrived, the service was exceptional smooth, well-organised, and incredibly attentive, even with our big party. The staff were warm, friendly, and truly went out of their way to ensure everyone felt welcomed and well taken care of. “The decor created a beautiful and inviting atmosphere, making it the perfect setting for a special occasion. And the food was simply outstanding, every dish was full of flavour, perfectly spiced, and enjoyed by everyone. “A wonderful experience from start to finish. Highly recommended for both intimate meals and big celebrations. We’ll definitely be returning! Thank you Aramintas!!”