Fetcham, Indian Restaurant Guide

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.

This haute Indian, in the Surrey ‘burbs (there’s also a Reigate sibling) was set up by ex-Oberoi/Cinnamon Club chef-patron Awanish Roy; it offers “a different Indian meal experience”, with the “lovely” food sampling Goan seafood specialities, or game from the Karnataka region, alongside more trad Punjabi dishes.

“Well worth a detour by car, bus and/or train to eat in this small restaurant near Tolworth” – “looking just like your typical, noisy curry house on a dual carriageway… except that it is fully booked every night”. “From pani puri to chicken Chettinad, the flavours are exquisite” with “a lasting intensity that can leave you punchdrunk”. It’s not utterly ridiculous to hail it as “the very best Indian food in the UK at any price point, and yet it’s still very reasonably priced compared with the Indian palaces of Marylebone and Knightsbridge”. Top Menu Tip – “the lamb chops are an absolute must”.

“Contemporary Indian cooking with flair and finesse” makes for an attractive dining option in the outer ’burbs at this colonial-style villa – a sister venue to Manor Vasaikar’s highly regarded Indian Zing, near Hammersmith. “The taste-stimulating amuse bouche to kick-off is definitely a harbinger of things to come” – (and “the loo decor must be seen...”).

2021 Review: Out in the boonies of New Malden, first class ratings again – if on slightly limited feedback – for Arjun Singh Rawat and Rajeev Danga’s North Indian three-year-old.

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.

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.

“Always delicious”, this well-known Pakistani canteen on Tooting’s ‘curry corridor’ offers the “same fun and good-value food as it has for years”. A favourite of local boy-made-mayor Sadiq Khan (so come on foot or by public transport), it has an offshoot in Coulsdon, on London’s southern fringe.

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!”.

This “fabulous, family-run” curry house near Wandsworth Common has built a loyal local following over the years for its “delicious food” and “always charming” welcome.

“Very good food”, “charming service” and what they claim is the ‘only authentic Kashmiri cuisine in England’ are the distinguishing features of this Putney venture from Rohit & Shweta Razdan, whose culinary journey took them to New Delhi and Singapore before settling here eight years ago.

2023 Review: “Very helpful staff” add to the appeal of this Balham High Street Indian, of over 15 years’ standing. Whether it should be a perennial inclusion in TripAdvisor’s top 10 London restaurants is debatable, but the (limited) feedback we receive says it’s worth a visit.

2023 Review: This “smart, modern-style Indian” has established itself as a “really good-quality neighbourhood curry house” in its 20 years in Battersea. “Yes, it’s a little cramped and can be noisy at its busiest times, but the food is always good and the fact it’s BYOB helps keep the cost down” (£1.95 corkage fee).

“Luscious, carefully spiced and original food” wins high ratings for this “very good upmarket Indian” in deepest Chiswick. Founders Kuldeep Mattegunta and Mustaq Tappewale (ex- Kricket, Amaya, Benares among others) took over the venue from the brilliant, much lamented Hedone (RIP), whose open kitchen makes it a “great place for chef watching”.

This West London pair of Indian street-food canteens, in Ealing and Hammersmith, elicits little in the way of commentary this year but wins its usual solid ratings for food and service.

“Oh, you lucky punters of East Sheen… rejoice!” – this “unexpected” two-year-old is a spin-off from Ewell’s legendary Dastaan, and is praised in numerous reports for chef Manish Sharma’s “extraordinary Indian cuisine at fair prices”: “big, complex punches of flavour but all nicely balanced”. On the downside, ratings are capped by the odd reporter who feels it’s “OK, but not quite as good as its reviews and reputation would suggest”.

This “great little local” in Putney “bills itself as an Indian railway kitchen and leans into the theme very nicely – the decor feels like an old-school carriage, and much of the menu is based on genuine street food, taken up a notch”. It’s certainly “not your standard curry house”, and the “fresh, flavourful dishes are full of individual tastes”. “It can be tricky to get a table if you don’t book ahead, but once you’re in, service is attentive”.