Considering the sheer volume of Indian restaurants in London writing a post on Indian dining is somewhat of a daunting task, from the local Taj Express takeaway to fine dining spots with queues around the block. However I'm up for the challenge! Being half Indian I've eaten a lot of very good Indian food, and also my fair share of bad too. I thought I'd round up a couple of new discoveries (and and old favourite) if you're looking to expand your culinary horizons in the New Year...
Chakra, Kensington
Newly refurbished Chakra in Kensington is a cosy neighbourhood dining spot featuring a menu of innovative Indian dishes and classic favourites, all beautifully presented and loaded with flavour. On my visit I popped in for a light lunch whilst shooting in the area with my Mum (she's Indian, so the real test is whether any Indian restaurant passes her approval!).
We started things off with the Truffle Naan (I am a sucker for any and all things truffle, it was a no brainer), and the Avocado Ke Gole, which were balls of creamy avocado coated and fried. Both starters were delicious, with such a mix of flavours not necessarily associated with Indian cuisine, but which combined together beautifully.
For our mains we went for the King Prawns, Vegetarian Biriyani, and a side of Mattar Paneer (a delicious Indian cottage cheese, which I definitely recommend if you're a veggie!). Packed with just as much flavour as our starters, the prawns were succulent and the paneer and biriyani sufficiently spicy to appease my mother (lack of spice is the usual gripe of Indians trying British Indian cuisine - if it's not spicy, is it really even Indian?).
Overall it's a pleasant spot with a varied and exciting menu that's so much more than the usual 'Chicken Tikka' (though you can order that too if you're a traditionalist!).
Cinnamon Kitchen, Battersea
Brunch is a fairly sacred meal for me - I like my avo on toasted sourdough with perfectly poached eggs, please and thank you. So when I was invited to try Cinnamon Kitchen's Indian brunch menu at their Battersea Power Station branch I was intrigued, if a little incredulous.
Being half Indian, I've had my fair share of traditional Indian breakfasts, usually along the lines of appam or a masala dosa. Nutritious, but no where near fancy enough for a cosmopolitan London brunch menu. And Cinnamon Kitchen certainly feels cosmopolitan, set in the new Power Station complex alongside hip bars and a range of dining options.
The menu is a mix of traditional Indian and brunch classics with a twist, with options for both the adventurous and the more conservative. Looking for avo on toast? Sure, they've got that, but they also have Uttapam (a South Indian rice pancake and breakfast staple), and Bombay scrambled eggs served with a keema paratha and a side of bacon. The latter was my order, and was completely delicious, with two breakfast favourites eggs and bacon reimagined with a kick of Indian spices, the usual toast upgraded with a flaky, buttery paratha.
What makes the Power Brunch so good is that it combines the best of both worlds - there are classic brunch staples, but they're paired with strong Indian flavours giving the classics a new lease of life.
Excuse the grainy photo, it's pretty dimly lit - adds to the ambience, but not great for photo taking!
Dishoom, Various Locations
It's hardly an undiscovered gem or hidden London secret, but Dishoom is one of the cities most loved Indian restaurant chains, and with good reason. They're always buzzing, filled to the brim with everyone from hipsters to tourists, and the food never disappoints.
I've been to a few of their locations, but my favourite is probably Kings Cross, a sprawling building laid out over several floors with a design aesthetic nostalgic of the British Empire. I recommend selecting a few of their starters (there are no bad choices, but the Prawn Koliwada are a MUST HAVE) and sharing with friends. For mains they do a selection of grilled dishes (the Murgh Malai and Lamb Boti Kebab are both great, but again, no bad choices!), as well as Biryani's and curries. You've got to get to dessert too - I love the Chocolate Pudding with a kick of chilli, and the Gulab Jamun is a popular choice.
Like the others in this roundup the menu is far from traditional, but the flavours are rich and they don't skimp on the spice. I've also heard good things about their breakfast, though I've not tried it myself. Expect to queue round the block, but it's worth it for a bowl of their legendary black dhal!
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