Newport restaurant opens sister branch we couldn't resist a visit

Yahoo

06-06-2025

A NEWPORT restaurant has branched out by opening a sister branch in another south Wales town.
The Pink Elephant on High Street in Cefn Coed, Merthyr Tydfil, opened on Tuesday, May 13 as the sister restaurant to Three Elephants, which is based in Newport and opened in September 2024.
The restaurant is under the ownership of Shah Jahan and the staff are trained under the watchful eye of celebrity chef Aitkur Kahman, who is hoping to pass on some of his 20 years of experience in the food industry, including serving King Charles during his time living in London.
(Image: NQ) A spokesperson for the team at Pink Elephant said: "We are pleased to be one of the best Indian restaurants in Merthyr with incredible food, polite and friendly staff, and great value for money.
"We highly suggest sampling our Speciality dishes and know you will enjoy every taste. When you order your Curry, Balti, Biryani or Tandoori from us, you'll see why we have been named as one of the best places to experience Indian cuisine in the Cefn Coed, Merthyr Tydfil area."
(Image: NQ) We were invited down to try out some dishes on opening night, and one of the first things that struck us on arrival was how busy the restaurant was for a middle of the week opening.
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It was clear that word of the quality and talent of the chefs at Pink Elephant had got around quickly and it was delightful to see how many people were turning out to support a new business.
(Image: Supplied) The staff were incredibly friendly, and welcoming throughout our visit, ensuring we had everything we would need while maintaining a wonderfully calm and relaxing atmosphere.
We ordered meat samosas to start, which were beautifully cooked, falling apart from the moment the fork touched, but still containing that deliciously spicy flavour and crunch that we come to love.
(Image: NQ) We followed that up with a lamb pasanda, served with pilau rice and naan.
We could not fault the presentation, as the curry was brought out in a silver bowl, with the naan in a small silver platter and the rice on its own plate.
(Image: NQ) The portions were very generous too, with a high quantity of chunks of meat in a curry that was smothered in rich sauce that left our tongue tingling with the strength of flavour.
The meat was cooked exquisitely, falling apart the moment our fork touched it, and was covered in a sauce that let its flavours sing and shine in a unique manner with each mouthful.
(Image: NQ)
During the meal, we were also entertained with a brilliant display of steam curling through a small glass jar. It was really one of those things you have to visit to really experience.
Throughout our visit, I could not fault the quality of the food or the friendliness of the staff, and would highly recommend a visit to the Pink Elephant.
The restaurant is open from 5pm to 11pm Sunday to Thursday and until 11.30pm on Friday and Saturday.