The village of Mildenhall was my first experience of the English countryside when I arrived in the U.K. two years ago.

It afforded me my first chance to appreciate English architecture, enjoy my first tea time and experience the generally friendly demeanors that my family and I have grown accustomed to.

What I did not expect out here, hours away from London, was the quality of food available. One standout for me is the Spice Lounge, which in 2019 earned recognition in the English Curry Awards, a competition involving more than 80 of the country’s Indian restaurants.

About a five-minute drive from RAF Mildenhall, the restaurant is situated along the main road. Parking is hard to come by, so you might have to walk a few minutes.

We were greeted by a friendly gentleman who turned out to be the owner, Jueb Ali. His warm welcome set the tone nicely and was a constant throughout the experience for me, my wife and our two children.

Ali has owned the restaurant in this location for more than 14 years, and it has become a popular destination for fans of Indian cuisine.

The downstairs gives a very cozy, intimate feeling, with mood lighting and six tables. It’s a much livelier and larger setting upstairs, which is usually opened for the weekend bustle.

The first thing my wife told me after we walked in was how great the place smelled. And she was right.

I ordered a chicken dish dubbed the Ansari, which is one of the chef’s specialties. My wife chose the chicken tikka masala, which is Britain’s go-to curry, and we shared some rice and naan.

I’ll admit I don’t have as much experience with Indian food as many others around here, but this meal was the best I’ve ever had.

The Ansari has pieces of chicken breast soaked in a chef-created sauce with a variety of Indian spices, crushed garlic, vegetables and potatoes served on an iron skillet.

Every piece of chicken was tender, and the vegetables and potatoes were imbued with the sauce. Everything was good individually, but when combined it took on a whole other level of flavor.

My wife is not a fan of spicy food, so the sweet masala Ali recommended for her was a great choice.

For dessert, I ordered the amm-r-choco, a freshly made bread stuffed with finely crushed coconut, almonds, cashews and sultanas topped with a caramel and Indian mango ice cream.

It was like an Indian version of a blondie in the U.S., but those pale in comparison. The bread was fluffy and light. The mango ice cream brought a cold treat to the crunchy elements of the dish.

My wife ordered the fantastica, which resembled a large cookie but in fact was an amalgamation of a crisp chocolate base, vanilla and caramel ice cream dusted with chocolate biscuit pieces.

My kids didn’t have much of the main meal but they were all over both of our desserts.

We did not buy any alcohol, but for those who are so inclined, the menu has a wide range of wines, spirits, liquors and beers.

The only quibble I had with our Spice Lounge experience was the cost. Our bill for what was essentially a meal for two came to just over 60 pounds. If you want quality, you pay for it.

That said, the food was delicious and the environment was wonderful. I would definitely come back the next time Indian food is on the brain and stomach.

The Spice Lounge

Address: 32 High St, Mildenhall, England

Prices: Starters and sides between 1 pound and 6.95 pounds; main dishes and specialties range from 8.95 pounds to 14.95 pounds

Hours: 5-10 p.m. daily

Information: (44) 01638-716055; Online: spiceloungerestaurant.co.uk