We were sat metres away from World Cup stars 👀

I always joke that my dad is more excited to visit Tharavadu than he is to see me whenever he comes up to Leeds.

Hailing from rural Cambridgeshire, where there's a choice of a whopping two Indian restaurants (and neither particularly good), the first time I took him to the Keralan restaurant he raved about it for weeks afterwards, bringing back memories of his trips to south India years ago.

My dad was back in Leeds for the Women’s T20 World Cup at Headingley, and a meal at Tharavadu the night before was, of course, obligatory.

Our reviewer tried Tharavadu in Mill Hill, Leeds city centre | YEP

placeholder image — Our reviewer tried Tharavadu in Mill Hill, Leeds city centre | YEP

To his absolute delight, we were seated just a few metres away from the Indian cricket team, enjoying a hearty meal and mango lassis before their match the following day. I had a very happy dinner companion before the food had even arrived, and he reeled off the career highlights of every player at the table.

Tharavadu has long been a favourite with India's cricket teams - a signed bat from former men's captain Virat Kohli hangs proudly on the wall - and that's about as good a seal of approval as you can get for authentic Indian food.

It was just as well we'd booked ahead, because the restaurant was packed to the rafters despite it being a Tuesday evening. That created a real buzz, while the decor - dark woods, warm colours and wicker chairs - gives Tharavadu the feel of a seaside restaurant in Kerala.

The Indian cricket team enjoyed a meal at Tharavadu before their Women's T20 World Cup match at Headingley | YEP

Despite being rushed off their feet, the staff were impeccably warm and hospitable. When our neighbours accidentally smashed a wine glass, our waitress dealt with it calmly and discreetly, clearing everything away safely without making the diners feel embarrassed.

We shared the snacks and homemade chutneys to start - the savoury kaya varuthathu (banana chips) are particularly moorish.

Sign up today for all of the latest news stories and more with our daily newsletter on everything Leeds

Next was my favourite dish on the menu: the masala dosa. The huge, crisp pancake, made from fermented rice and lentil batter, was filled with a warming potato curry that packed some serious heat.

For our mains, we opted to share Tharavadu’s signature meen koottan fish curry - beautiful flaky fish that melted in our mouths, simmered in a sauce that balanced heat, pepper and tangy tamarind - and the veggie mutter paneer curry, a more delicately spiced, creamy coconut curry with crisp paneer cubes and peas.

The meen koottan fish curry and paratha - which our reviewer named the best in Leeds | YEP

We ordered a bowl of rice and two parathas to accompany them. I am a paratha fiend and have worked my way through plenty across Leeds, but I was reminded why Tharavadu’s are my favourite - soft and flaky, not too oily, with perfect, buttery layers. Top tip: save some until the end if you can restrain yourself, and then you get the joy of mopping up all the sauce from your bowl.

With most curries priced between £17-£23, it is on the pricier end of the city’s Indian restaurant scene. But with generous portions, outstanding staff and exceptional cooking that's good enough to keep India's international cricketers coming back, it's worth the cost.

And judging by the smile on my dad’s face as we left the restaurant, it’s obvious what his favourite part about visiting Leeds is.

I’m going to have to concede second place.