Restaurant Spy - Indian

Sakoni's 127-129 Ealing Road, Wembley, HA0 4BP

Thu, 17 Apr 2008 10:59:38 +0000

Address:
127-129 Ealing Road, Wembley, HA0 4BP

Review:

Look to where the locals go and head to Sakoni's for cheap, filling and mouth-watering vegetarian Gujarati food. Populated as it is already with sari, jewellery and Indian grocery stores, Ealing Road is packed with locals who pop into Sakoni's for their spicy masala dosas, burning hot chai and crispy bhajiyas.

If you don't mind being packed into a corner in a clinical and sometimes dirty interior, its well worth it for the food. In fact, sometimes, it adds to the authentic Indian experience.

The Spice Club, Mount Ephraim Tunbridge Wells Kent TN4 8AA

Sun, 30 Mar 2008 12:17:37 +0000

Address:
Mount Ephraim Tunbridge Wells Kent TN4 8AA

Review:

I have to confess that I have avoided the Spice Club, mostly because of the roller-coaster reviews I have seen on this and other sites. A sharp splash of rain and rumbling tummies fixed our minds and, in we went, caution to the wind.

I'm happy to say that some of the real and persistent worries I had read about were not in evidence on this visit. Service was attentive and formal, although a smile would not go amiss, and the food - from poppadums, pickles, through to main courses were all tasty with satisfying heat where required. My lamb dhansak was succulent and tender with a refreshingly sour taste.... just perfect.

Palm Kerala 49, Grosvenor Road, Tunbidge Wells, Kent, TN1 2AY

Wed, 26 Mar 2008 09:35:25 +0000

Address:
49, Grosvenor Road, Tunbidge Wells, Kent, TN1 2AY

Review:

Kerala is just about alive in Tunbridge Wells but at a cost.... McDosa was a marvel: great food at a low price albeit with random service and somewhat dodgy surroundings. The revamped and sold on version still has some great Keralan specialities like parripu vadai and dosas but now costs far more with possibly even more random service.

In the McDosa days you could get more top quality South Indian specilaties than you could possibly eat and a decent dose of Cobra and wine for about £30. Now prices have risen and apart from a more even coat of grey paint on the walls there is little on the plus side to explain the 25-35% increase in price. The food is generally okay but £6.25 for a small quantity of some shop bought paneer and peas as a main course is about £3 too much. They also advertise the chutneys as a speciality but failed to deliver, returning only some Patak-style lime pickle instead of the promised lemon pickle (which is so easy to make in advance) and home made mango chutney. This came with achappam which was more akin to stamped on sugary square hula hoops than the flower shaped crunch that I remember from the delights of Rasa on Church St. N16.

Gourmet Kama, 20, Bridge Street, Aberdeen , AB11 6JJ

Sun, 06 Jan 2008 11:03:09 +0000

Address:
20, Bridge Street, Aberdeen , AB11 6JJ

Review:

Me and my friend going around Aberdeen all day were looking for some Indian food where we came across a guy who recommended us to Gourmet Kama and I should say we do not regret going there. Although the decor is not fantastic the food we received was a real authentic taste, no english version of Indian or bangladeshi. Also we were informed that if we did not like it we can return the food back. The boys knew what they were serving. We were suggested a Manchurian with crispy asparagus in it along with Salmon pakora as a starter which was a fantastic option. For main couse we had the Spinachy saagwala chicken along with some recommended stuffed nan bread with keema and grape fruit rice (to my astonishment it was really good). After the meal we were served a 3 in one liquor coffee as their special and a mango kulfi which they said was home made. We enjoyed the whole evening and would recommend this place for a good Indian food experience. good value for money. spywk

Tower Tandoori, 74-76 Tower Bridge Rd, Bermondsey, London SE1 4TP

Wed, 12 Sep 2007 22:30:58 +0000

Address:
74-76 Tower Bridge Rd, Bermondsey, London SE1 4TP

Review:

I don't think Americans really get curry (mind you, why should they? It's not exactly part of their history). So I've got a new idea for a TV 'reality' show. Americans have to go into an Indian restaurant (or maybe any restaurant) and having read the description, order something straight off the menu without fuss, bother or calling the manager to discuss it. I've never seen them manage to do this. Points are awarded for each dish they manage to order and actually consume without fuss. I was entertained in the Tower Tandoori by an Amnerican woman asking for a vegetarian Vindaloo or something of the kind. At length. It could have been a short film. The waiters were extremely professional and very helpful and her needs, whatever they eventually were, were met. But it was certainly more exciting than Big Brother.

The Brilliant, 72 Western Road, Southall Middlesex

Mon, 20 Aug 2007 10:01:31 +0000

Address:
72 Western Road, Southall Middlesex

Review:

The Brilliant has been a Southall fixture for over 30 years, and I have been coming here regularly for fifteen of these. It aims to do traditional, family style Punjabi cooking in a restaurant setting. Recently the influence of the owner's daughter has added a number of "healthy options", where there is less use made of ghee.

The strengths are in the main course curries and in several of the starters. For example Methi chicken has tender chicken in a rich, spicy sauce with fenugreek. On the starters, aloo tikki is a dish you only seem to see n Southall: chickpeas, tamarind, yogurt and coriander, which work well as a combination. The chicken starter dishes are excellent e.g. methi chicken (cumin) or malai chicken tikka, or butter chicken if you don't mind the calories. The naans are OK but no more that than, but the romali roti is excellent. Vegetable dishes could do with a being cooked a fraction less to retain more texture, though aloo chollay (mainly chickpeas with a few pieces of potato) works well. They actually make the desserts here, including excellent kulfi and halwa. It is very much a family atmosphere, with groups of ten or more commonplace.

Lahore Kebab House, 2 Umberstone Street (off Commercial Rd) London E1 1PY

Mon, 04 Jun 2007 16:11:36 +0000

Address:
2 Umberstone Street (off Commercial Rd) London E1 1PY

Review:

Whitechapel is full of "Indian" restaurants, and 90% of them are run by Bangla Deshis. Nothing wrong with that, but Lahore gives the impression of being truly Indian, and the menu certainly has few of those run of the mill staples we all know and love. The clientele was 90% male and a wonderful ethnic mix, I guess most of them worked at the nearby London and Barts hospitals. We were seated quickly, every table gets a salad and raita straight away (excellent) There's also a bottle of Hildon water on each table, but if you check the menu it's £2 (not excellent at all) We asked for a jug of tap water and got one - no fuss.

Notting Hill Tandoori, 23 All Saints Road, London W11 1HE

Fri, 06 Apr 2007 16:43:38 +0000

Address:
23 All Saints Road, London W11 1HE

Review:

I ordered a takeaway from the Notting Hill Tandoori last night, quite by chance, and I found myself eating the best Indian food I have tasted in years! I had a freshwater fish dish called African Queen, and a spinach, green banana and potato side dish. Both were delicious, with top quality ingredients, and lightly spiced so that all of the natural flavours were enhanced. The Pilau rice was a revelation - it had a superb taste and texture, and none of those strange bright food colourings. All of the food was fresh, natural and healthy, and not in the least bit oily.

Bengal Tiger, 62-66 Carter Lane, London, EC4V 5EA

Sat, 10 Mar 2007 15:07:56 +0000

Address:
62-66 Carter Lane, London, EC4V 5EA

Review:

Tucked away on the narrow network of cobbled streets adjacent to Ludgate Hill is a gem of an Indian Restaurant. The Bengal Tiger, at first impressions, seems like a slightly above average restaurant - the neat decor (tiger motifs abound) and nice bar all contribute to a sense of pleasant calm. What marks it out from the crowd is the simply the food. Good ingredients and, essentially, the ability to combine 'heat' with real flavour. The curried lamb shank is delicious, and the chicken jaipuri (served on open mango) is fruity and tamarind-spicy. It's always refreshing when the flavours aren't disguised by over-spicing.

New Tayyab, 83, Fieldgate St London E1 1JU

Fri, 19 Jan 2007 11:47:26 +0000

Address:
83, Fieldgate St London E1 1JU

Review:

Now I know we can't all go to Whitechapel to taste probably the best Indian food in the world, but take it from me - if you're visiting London this is a destination restaurant.

Its BYO - bring your own wine, etc - so its all eyes down for the food menu. You almost cannot spend too much money here. I went with a group of people, ate far too much until I was fit to burst and it came to twelve quid each.

New Taj Mahal, Kings Cross Road, London WC1

Fri, 19 Jan 2007 11:46:10 +0000

Address:
Kings Cross Road, London WC1

Review:
I was no where near drunk enough to choose this. It looked and sounded pretty bad but my friend insisted she had heard it was "supposed to be nice". The decor was absurd, the prices even more so (over £40 for the 2 of us and we didn't have very much). Sadly, the food also fights for a foreign power. And at the end of the meal, we were enticed to stay by the comedy horror extravaganza of the menu; The Floater Coffee (I didn't dare ask).

Cafe Guru, 6 Brewery Place, Brewery Wharf, Leeds, LS1 O1N

Thu, 28 Dec 2006 14:02:00 +0000

Address:
6 Brewery Place, Brewery Wharf, Leeds, LS1 O1N

Review:

The best restaurant I've visited all year - absolutely stunning, almost space age interiors, impeccable service & exceptional food. I know it is good because my husband is notoriously difficult to please (he's an architect, aka perfectionist!) & he was over the moon with Cafe Guru as the choice for his 40th birthday celebration. The restaurant coped admirably with our large (and probably quite noisy at times) group of 18. Everyone, without exception, vegetarians & meat eaters alike were very impressed with their food. I can personally recommend the Tandoori King Prawns (Starter) and the pan-fried leg of lamb (main course)...we were too full for dessert but coffees were served even though we had overun our booking time on the table. Heartily recommend this place - can't wait to go back!

Cinnamon, 476 Union Street, Aberdeen AB10 1TS

Wed, 29 Nov 2006 10:40:43 +0000

Address:
476 Union Street, Aberdeen AB10 1TS

Review:

I would guess that the success of Cinnamon rests on the back of clever marketing and a massive advertising budget. It is a restaurant of style rather than substance. It is a modern curry house with trendy decor.

On the Wednesday night that we visited, it was also packed to the gunnels (thus we were unlucky enough to be shown to an awful table under a staircase, despite having booked in advance). The menu appears stylish (some attempt at fusing Scottish produce with Indian spices), but at Cinnamon all is not as it seems... We ordered haddock kebabs for starters. Although the fish was beautifully marianated & cooked to perfection, it was accompanied by what tasted suspiciously like Blue Dragon sweet chilli sauce! We then had to wait forty five minutes for our main course to arrive. My main course was a curry of tiger prawns in a fennel and onion sauce. Despite the flash description, this did not tast any better than a bog standard Madras - albiet a very greasy one at that. The prawns were cut into little pieces - whether this was an attempt to make them go further or not, I don't know, but I would certainly have preferred them to be presented whole, as is the norm (especially when the dish cost £14.95, without the rice!). My partner had a lamb curry which was also disappointing. For dessert, we ordered Kulfi. This was not the nice, creamy, homemade Kulfi, such as is served in Karma (Aberdeen), but a horrid, factory made, lurid green version.

Memsaheb-on-Thames, 65-67 Amsterdam Road off Manchester Road Isle of Dogs London E14

Thu, 09 Nov 2006 09:28:46 +0000

Address:
65-67 Amsterdam Road off Manchester Road Isle of Dogs London E14

Review:

This is a first class restaurant, the staff are friendly beyond belief and the cooking is sublime. The restaurant is situated on the bank of the Thames, with great views over the river and the Dome in the distance. The interior is tasteful (unlike most Indian restaurants I've visited) and the price is amazingly average considering the quality of the food. Choose from the 'old favourites' and get your Chicken Korma/Chicken Tikka Masala, etc or go for a special such as the Reicardo. The dish is gorgeous trout stuffed with spicy prawns. I would recommend this restaurant to anyone as it is the best Indian I've ever visited, plus set in a delightful environment. Go there and enjoy! From a regular.... Kate

Mela, 152-156 Shaftesbury Avenue London WC2H 8HL

Thu, 09 Nov 2006 09:24:24 +0000

Address:
152-156 Shaftesbury Avenue London WC2H 8HL

Review:

Chose this place because it's directly opposite the Covent Garden Odeon, and booked a table for 5. It's recently opened, and both the decor and the food are modern - far more fish on the menu than in old fashioned "Indian" restaurants, and few - if any - of the hackneyed old "favourites". I've really had it with chicken/lamb/prawns with korma/madras/vindaloo. You can see the full menu on their excellent website. Given the location, it's not cheap - starters were £3-£5; mains £9-£12. We shared big bottles of Cobra beer (660ml for £4.95). Service was attentive, the food was interesting and good and we all enjoyed ourselves. The bill for two courses, beer, papadums, naan and a few vegetable plates came to £105 - which worked out at £21 a head. Refreshingly, they don't add service, but we did. I'd be delighted to eat here again if in the area, but there's so much choice in London, that I wouldn't make a special journey. DM 2001