It was a beautiful evening in Hadleigh as we arrived for Curry Night at the Jet Lounge.

This is the latest in a series of 'Destination' events put on by the Team which have previously taken passengers to 'Iran', 'Ireland' and 'Morocco' on Friday evenings in recent months and who are probably better known for their 'in flight' Long Haul Breakfasts, Mexican Mile Highs, amazing cakes and lunches.

While we had booked an early start, we did not expect to see the normally packed 'casual restaurant' with so few customers.

Destination Friday Nights are pre booked affairs and the restaurant were still offering tables to book the previous day, but it made for a safer spaced out experience which we found more comfortable than the more cramped lunch or breakfast times we have also had there.

It's a lovely little restaurant, with a surprising range of food on its 'Inflight Menu' and the chef can be seen handmaking everything you order in the kitchen behind the bar.

There is a garden through the restaurant at the back, and a couple of tables on the street outside, and throughout the summer, it is a real taste of the holidays we haven't been having so much of lately with nicely cooked food given an international twist in a groovy setting.

Inside the Jet Lounge (Picture credit: Hadleigh Nub News)

There are lovely references to the owners' time in air travel, with mementoes from their previous careers bringing a personal, friendly feel to the place.

All the 'Passengers' had taken their seats by around 7.30 by which time we had been served our choice from the on-board bar.

It wasn't so clear where we were going, but it appeared to be East as there were 3 types of curry dish, rice, naan bread, prawn crackers and chutney on a sharing board for two.

Rachel is a friendly, professional who appears to be too small to carry the huge sharing board as it comes out.

She wears Jet Lounge Cabin Crew uniform and is as personable and welcoming as all the staff are, whatever the day or time we come here. King Prawn Madras is pitched as 'the hottest' and is a tomatoey curry reminiscent of home-cooked Indian food.

It was delicious - hot and sweet from the tomatoes and peppers. The prawns are a little small to be described as 'king' and they are so easy to over cook in a curry, but they pack the promised punch.

Beef Massaman is milder, with chunks of beef in a coconut and peanut sauce with potatoes. It's beautifully tender and tastes marvellous.

Chicken Balti is a vibrant, paprika, saucy dish with tomato and peppers. It is aromatic and the chicken melts in your mouth. The rice is sticky and the bread is doughy and plentiful and a bottle of the house red is reduced with the sharing board.

Plentiful naan bread

The atmosphere is leisurely and relaxed and there's no rush to move onto pudding, which is a good job - there's so much food that, depressingly, we can't eat it all and we have been starving ourselves all day looking forward to this meal. In the background an 80s/ 90s mix is playing which is a shame because a nice Eastern, Bhangra or Bollywood medley would have gone down a treat.

The diners are chatting to each other and it looks like they're regulars who come here often.

The staff are friendly with everyone, but it's clear that they know the regulars well and the interactions are personal and they're calling each other by their first names.

It's got the vibe of a supper club, or popping into your much loved local. Eventually the subject of pudding can't be ignored, and here it comes, a Peach Melba. Beautifully presented and regardless of how much food everyone has eaten (and had to leave), the plates are clean and the coffee ordered.

People begin disembarking and being fondly seen off, with a sincerity that you would not see at the rear door on your typical bucket flight.

There is still no rush, and Rachel is still doing almost everything front of house, with Chef Daniel popping out with some plates and brushing off the compliments about his marvellous Madras. We are all enjoying the familiarity and informality combined with really good food.

Jet Lounge (Picture credit: Hadleigh Nub News)

The Jet Lounge's Destination Night is Hadleigh's best kept 'secret' and I selfishly hope that it stays that way.

Follow their Facebook page for their brunch and full menu, details of afternoon teas and Sunday roasts, and for details of their next departure which is yet to be decided.

Boarding times Monday to Friday 0930 - 1600*Kitchen closes 1500 Saturday 0900 - 1630*Kitchen closes 1530 Sunday 1000 - 1530*Kitchen closes 1500 Find us at: Dragons Barn, 99B High Street, Hadleigh, IP7 5EJ

Email: [email protected] or call: 01473 828592