Britain's 'curry culture' is alive and well despite the recent economic turbulence, and equipping the nation's curry houses with comfortable restaurant furniture could help them to continue attracting diners who just can't get their rice to the right texture at home.
Figures from Mintel show that Basmati rice is now the nation's favourite, overtaking the perennially popular alternative of long-grain to account for at least part of 69% of Brits' rice-based diets.
However, 23% of adults don't find it easy to cook rice at home, with even more 16 to 24-year-olds - 37% of those surveyed - having texture problems when cooking it for themselves.
"Britain's more mature generations appear to be the most confident in the kitchen," concedes Mintel's senior food analyst Alex Beckett.
Despite the recession, it seems many Brits are happy to continue spending on their favourite foods, with pasta and rice both still seen as an economical option by many of those surveyed in the wake of wholesale rises in the cost of the ingredients.
For curry houses trying to justify price rises in their dishes, new restaurant furniture could be one way to demonstrate that money has been invested - and not leave customers feeling as though menu prices have been raised for no reason.
While new tables and chairs can't counteract the price of rice and other ingredients at wholesalers, they serve as a visual indication of rising standards, and not just rising prices.