Restaurant Reviews

As I am often asked for a recommendation of where to go for a good Indian I thought I will add to that request and set up a page to list my favourite bars, cafés, restaurants of all kinds of cuisine.

Indian Cuisine

London

Upmarket Range  *****

Cinnamon Kitchen run by the celebrity chef Vivek Singh

9 Devonshire Square EC2M 4YL  close to Liverpool Street Station

Serving traditional food with a modern twist this restaurant serves up interesting dishes such as lamb wrapped in betel leaf. Kulfi in a vermicelli nest is unforgettable. The restaurant has outdoor seating in the square under a vaulted glass ceiling. The exotic cocktails are definitely worth a try. The bar Anise gets lively at night especially Friday and Saturday. The restaurant offers cookery classes. The lunch time menu is very reasonably priced. Express Lunch 2 courses £15

Vivek Singh also has another restaurant Cinnamon Club which is the more classier and therefore more expensive branch. Set in the Old Westminister Library it must ooze olde worlde charm. I have not been there myself but I hear it's haute cuisine menu does not fail to please.

Chutney Mary in Chelsea (King's Road)

The food is delicious served in delicate little karahis (woks) but the portion was too small for my lads who had to have a kebab afterwards! The menu is pricey. But you go there not just to eat but to see and be seen. A good place to celebrate a special birthday.

Veeraswamy -Regent Street London

Silver painted ceiling and a Mughal decor breathes opulence. Their Sunday lunch has special regional dishes such as channa batura (chick peas and fried bread) and sweet pastries like jelabies.

Benares- Mayfair London

Run by the well-known twice Michelin starred chef Atul Kochhar  it is yet another fine place to try fusion food at its best- Duck Breast with Pear and Onion Chaat and Tandoori roasted scallop.


Authentic places to eat Indian food cheaply

Head to the rows of restaurants in Brick Lane, London's East End, dominated by Bangladeshis bringing a taste of home. 

For good vegetarian food such as Dosas (South Indian rice and lentil pancake) go to Wembley. You will be spoilt for choice.

Southall has the best of North Indian Street food dishes like chaats, gol gappas (crispy savoury snacks with yogurt and tamarind chuttney)

Memories of India in Isleworth (West London) is our local favourite. Good food, Temple decor. Quiet elegance.