Egham, Indian Restaurant Guide

“Amazing food, full of flavours” is on the menu at Bhanu Prataps “interesting” colonial-style establishment, a fixture for 17 years close to the Thames on the outer fringe of southwest London in a smart venue just back from the Thames.

This veteran purveyor of “delicious” Pakistani/South Asian cuisine represents “really excellent value for the amount of food provided” – and as for the quality, its many fans insist it delivers among “the best lamb chops around”. Founded back in 1968 as a grocery serving the diaspora in Southall, it became a fully fledged restaurant in 1994 and now seats 180 guests in the main restaurant and another 180 in the ‘lounge’ function room upstairs.

2024 Review: Former Tamarind and Dishoom chef Yousuf Mohammed has “a different take on traditional Indian cuisine, with tapas-style dishes and cocktails making it a great dining experience”. Fans acclaim it as “my type of Indian”, with a focus on “quality not quantity”. Look out for pre- and post-match specials when England or Harlequins are in action at nearby Twickenham or the Stoop.

2022 Review: “A real boon in Richmond”, run by exotically named founder Sudden Alberts, also behind Atithi in Twickenham. With its “delicious” Indian cuisine (“we particularly like the vegetarian side dishes”) and “prompt and perfect” service (“nothing is too much to make the customers happy”) it’s proclaimed something of a “hidden gem” by all who comment on it.

“Great curry house with friendly, helpful staff” – one of a trio (with siblings in Cookham and Marlow) that have been the last word in this corner of the Home Counties for top-class “authentic Indian cuisine with a price tag” since the late 1990s (Heston Blumenthal is a fan). Top Tip – “the Sunday buffet is an attractive outing”.

Puneet Wadhwani’s colourful, “good-value” street-food cantinas in Ealing and Hammersmith are inspired by the snacks sold to travellers at Indian railway stations. Having a party? – “The chef’s sharing Thali is fantastic – full of flavour and great variety” – and feeds up to five hungry adults and two kids for £144 (vegetarian), £155 (mixed) and £166 (with seafood).

2023 Review: “Every dish is fresh and authentic” at this comfortable curry house which occupies a half-timbered building on the high street, and which has become well-known over many years for its superior Indian cuisine. Heston is a fan.

There’s “always a cheery welcome and super-courteous service at this distinctive and cut-above restaurant” from ex-Oberoi/Cinnamon Club chef-patron Awanish Roy – the first in a now two-strong chain, with a younger spin-off in Reigate. Its “sophisticated and delicate culinary style” is “superior to any other Indian restaurants in the area”, showcased in everything from the “tiny” and “delicious” poppadoms to “tender and flavoursome” chef’s specials, which feature on a menu spanning street food, British favourites and far more exotic fare (grilled guinea fowl, say, or wild boar vindaloo).

2024 Review: Set in a parade of shops, Deepinder Sondhi’s subcontinental (with smarter dining room upstairs) is a fixture in these parts for its high-quality cooking, including some more adventurous dishes (think chocolate samosas, or chicken tikka with Laphroaig masala). If you wish, you can kick things off in style in the cocktail bar.

Puneet Wadhwani’s colourful, “good-value” street-food cantinas in Ealing and Hammersmith are inspired by the snacks sold to travellers at Indian railway stations. Having a party? – “The chef’s sharing Thali is fantastic – full of flavour and great variety” – and feeds up to five hungry adults and two kids for £144 (vegetarian), £155 (mixed) and £166 (with seafood).

2022 Review: In a village near Leatherhead, this well-established Indian (opened in 1983) – nowadays run by the son of the founder – is strongly applauded by its local fans.

“Outrageous value” is not the only reward of a journey to the outer-limits of the metropolis and this “small”, “top-notch Indian” in a trafficky parade of shops in Ewell. You will also discover “Indian food the likes of which you have not previously experienced, full of such a variety of delicious flavours that it’s hard to limit your choices” – “rich but so tasty”. (Food commentator, Andy Hayler, who has visited every Michelin three-star on the planet, is a major fan – he’s reviewed the place 13 times!). Top Menu Tips – “best are the starters”: “super pani puri”.

If you’re looking for a “good pitstop in the West End”, this trio (also with an offshoot in Hammersmith) offers “tasty vegan and veggie Indian food” at “very reasonable prices” – nothing fancy, but “good basic cooking” of “South Indian staples”. Pickier diners can feel that some sauces are “rather watery”, or that the filling food can come “with no stand-out flavours”. Practically all agree, however, that “a great Masala Dosa and beer makes a very affordable meal in Central London”. Top Tip – “good choice to take a crowd: they’re not fazed by large tables”.

All-you-can-eat vegetarian Indian buffet with a “good selection of dishes at reasonable prices”. Based in Wembley, where it started out 40-odd years ago as a family-owned market stall, it now has spinoffs in Harrow, Kingsbury and Hatch End (the latter à la carte only). Signature dishes include bhel puri, crispy bhajia and chilli paneer, washed down by a selection of soft drinks.

2023 Review: This “great-value local Indian” is a landmark on the South Circular near Putney which has built a sterling reputation over 32 years for its classic north Indian dishes supplemented by interesting Nepalese specialities such as momo steamed dumplings – all served in “huge portion sizes!”.