Café Tusk, situated in Fareham’s West Street claims to be the largest self-service style Indian restaurant in the south.

Its ‘all you can eat’ promise at under £15 means you get a lot for your money.

You can visit the buffet as often as you like and there’s a wide selection of dishes to choose from.

The size of the restaurant (it can seat up to 170 customers) means you don’t have to book, and it’s perfect if you’re after a quick, tasty meal with no fuss or frills before heading on to nearby pubs, bars or the cinema round the corner.

Helping yourself means you can steer out of your comfort zone and try dishes you may never otherwise choose in a traditional restaurant.

Café Tusk has covered all bases making sure there’s the usual Indian staples – korma, masala and vindaloo – but due to the size of the buffet stations they can afford to add more interesting dishes like spicy chicken korai and chicken chilli masala with its intense flavour and fiery heat.

The vegetable selection is particularly good especially the superb hot and sour vegetable dansak, which was a real highlight. There were salads, a spicy vegetable curry, okra, deep fried aubergines and, of course, onion bhajis.

It’s not just a case of plain or pilau rice, there are many variations and a constant supply of fresh naans means you don’t get that awful cardboard effect that I have seen happen at some other Indian buffet nights.

There’s also an Oriental crossover, so if you prefer prawn crackers and sesame toast to poppdoms and samosas there’s something for everyone.

And if you venture away from your usual dishes but find it’s not to your taste you can simply try something else.

Plates were cleared quickly and our drinks replenished efficiently.

The combination of self-service, practical wipe-clean tables and tissue napkins mean it’s never going to feel as special, or as much of an event as visiting an a la carte restaurant, but I was impressed with range of dishes available, many of which tasted as good as if they were cooked from scratch.

If you fancy trying something a little different, want a great value meal or just like eating a lot, Café Tusk is well worth a visit.

Prices vary from weekdays (Mon-Fri) £6.99 per person for lunch, £12.99 for evening meals while on weekends (Fri- Sat) it’s £13.99 per person. Under tens are half price. Takeaway service is also available.

Café Tusk, 24 West Street, Fareham 01329 235511/235522