Immanuels African Restaurant, 12 Newland Avenue, Hull. By Carolyn Open 12-3 and 6-late Monday to Saturday.

Offering traditional African food, all fresh and mostly organic, this restaurant has got a brilliant corner of the eating-out market as it is the only one of its kind in Hull. I see this as one of Hulls best kept secrets and those of you who are on the search for something different when you go out to eat will know that if ye seek ye shall find (I promise that if you look beneath the surface, this, even in Hull, is possible).

Always offering a friendly smile and great service, Abigail and James, originally from Nigeria, cater for most culinary needs. Surprisingly, they offer a great deal of vegetarian food considering that African food usually uses a lot of meat and fish to compliment its dishes.

Immanuel's has been open now for 14 weeks and it has been a slow and steady process for Abigail and James who run the restaurant. Abigail is heading this project and had the idea of opening an African restaurant because she noticed that there was nowhere in the area to get the different types of food that she has back home. You can purchase all the ingredients but there is no where to actually enjoy home cooked African food.

I have been cooking since I was 12 years old with my grandmother back in Nigeria and now I want to share my knowledge and good food sense with the people of Hull. African food is healthy and balanced, exactly what is needed here, Abigail says. If you are looking for something new to try and are after a touch of the exotic you certainly won't be disappointed. The closest you will get to this type of fare is in Leeds where there is a much bigger African community, and as you travel across the centre of Leeds you will find it littered with traditional cafes and restaurants serving everything you can imagine from fish and chips to goat meat and moyin moyin.

Immanuel's offers you this and anything you can think of English if you don't fancy being too adventurous with your food. All you have to do is ask Abigail in advance and she will do her best to cater for you. Another big plus for Abigail is that she offers gluten free and some vegan produce and this has usually only been available in veggie restaurants which, lets face it are few between in Hull.

Immanuel's is also non smoking and because it is quite small inside with the kitchen directly behind the restaurant you will surely see and feel the benefits of this. Without a drinks licence, Immanuel's don't mind you bringing in your own alcohol with a small charge for corkage and glasses so you have the option to try and find the right wine to suit your meal.

Immanuel's can be hired for business meetings and birthdays alike and is suitable for every occasion. If you want a party you've got one! Abigail and James are naturally happy people and make you feel warm and very welcome. Abigail can often be seen dancing along to the traditional music played and is always laughing! When you walk in the smell of a thousand spices and ingredients hits you and it awakens your taste buds way before you eat.

I have been to eat a few times now with friends and am yet to be disappointed. Before I gave up eating meat, eating the curried goat was a favourite of mine with its strong flavour and robust taste, Abigail manages to cook and serve this without it being stringy and tough. Boiling and braising it for hours over a hot stove and marinating it in secret spice blends this is a traditional African meal and well worth a try especially as there is nowhere here you will get to try it. Jerk chicken is another favourite along with plantain and pepper sauce and is wholly tasty.

If you don't want to eat meat don't worry, as I said before the vegetarian options are like nothing you will see in Hull. Moyin-moyin is a blend of chickpea and potato and can be eaten with ground nut or pepper sauce, followed by some plantain (from the banana family and is fried or baked and can be eaten savoury or sweet).

Washed down with a bottle of super malt and you can truly feel as if you have experienced something out of this 'Ull!

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