I was enjoying a chill-out Tuesday, some down time due for hauling my brogues round the mean city streets.

The Moll was lost in her copy of crochet weekly, while I was remembering those dirt-poor days when I was a minor Tec.

It was all the wolf could to do to keep me away from his door. Ah, nostalgia ain't what it used to be.

Suddenly I had a brainwave. I yanked on Blondie's arm, grabbed the keys to the Buick and set the scran scan dial to west.

Ashton Lane, to be precise, off Byres Road, the kind of bolthole where I've had more hot dinners than Ghandi.

I was keen to turn the clock back and the Ashoka was the perfect time machine.

Last time I was here the information super highway was just being built and some dude called Yeltsin had his finger on the buttons in the Kremlin.

Right away, though, I clocked a huge difference ... I've piled on the pounds while the Ashoka's knocked them off.

The waiter instantly drew my peepers to a special May menu that promised a starter and a mains job for less then a 10 spot.

The Moll's so tight she only cries with one eye, but even she reckoned the price – and the spice – was right.

"Tell you what, Tec, this one's on me," she said. I checked to see if I still had a pulse before ordering up a Chardonnay a deux.

It was just what a Gourmet Gumshoe needed before setting off on a passage to India.

I kicked off my feast from the east with chicken tikka, an oldie but goodie.

Four pieces of poultry packed out my plate and each one was stoatin', as they say in these parts.

The chicken was missing that traditional tandoori redness, but the taste would have delighted any curry connoisseur – especially thanks to the fruit sauce, which was sweet and nippy hot.

Moghul magnificent was my easy-to-please verdict.

Full marks also went to the salad, a killer confection of fresh lettuce, peppers, onions and tomatoes.

Blondie had decided to emerge from her culinary cocoon by opting for the king prawn butterfly. Not to be outdone, she rated it even high than my starter.

The prawns had been given some serious plump treatment and were delicately cooked.

This was definitely a dish for a spice girl. There was no mistaking the ginger and chilli flavours and the garlic butter sauce gave it a sizzle and a fizzle.

My vino had disappeared pronto tonto, so a refill was on the cards now I knew Blondie was on the bell.

As I munched on a chapatti, I noticed The Moll was giving me the eye.

So I threw it back at her while I scanned the Ashoka for old time's sake. I didn't see too many vacant tables, another sign the Ashoka has cracked this gourmet game.

Meanwhile, my Sherlock-type antennae had twitched into life the moment my chicken bhoona had left the kitchen.

My nose has never let me down where good nosh is concerned and it wasn't going to start now.

The Ashoka guys had brought their A game to town and, like the starter, it was a bit of a plateful. The chicken was delicious, pure white and melt-in-the-mouth magnificent. And the fab rice had me singing about tears on my pilau.

The sauce was just at the right level of nippyness – a bit like The Moll as it happens.

As it turned out, Toots had opted for the star of the show – sharab masti. This was a lamb curry and a meal fit for a Maharaja's missus.

The menu said it was cooked in a tarka ... which was a new one on me. But it was a trick that worked a tasty treat.

The lamb was delicious and bursting with a rich combo of spicy flavours.

The heat was well and thanks to a tantalising mix of peppers, green chillis and a generous dash of red vino.

"That was the best lamb curry I've had in months, Tec," said The Moll.

I was happy to hear it ... and even happier when she kept her word to flash the cash when the bill arrived.

It came to less than the forty-something mark. I might be a cheap date, but I'm so worth it.

ASHOKA, 19 ASHTON LANE, GLASGOW

TEL: 0141 337 1115

Food 4444 Atmosphere 444 Service 4444

(Two courses for £9.95 per person)

STARTERS

Chicken tikka with salad

King prawn butterfly with garlic butter sauce

MAINS

Lamb curry sharab masti

Chicken Bhoona with naan bread and rice

SIDES

Two chapattis £3.00

DRINKS

Four glasses of Chardonnay £11.80

Total £34.70