Fitzrovia, Indian Restaurant Guide

“Superb”, “authentic Keralan food and old-fashioned Indian service” are the hallmarks of this veteran, close to the Telecom Tower – and “the value is unbelievable, especially for central London”. “The food went through a down patch but has improved again” – “despite the somewhat odd recent renovation and updated menu”.

Chef Krishna Negi (who first made his name when he launched Tangawizi in Richmond in 2004) opened this Fitzrovian basement spot in October 2019, with a menu featuring ‘nano plates’ (small plates and sharing bowls) inspired by 1947’s partition of India. Some initial reviews on its cuisine have been very upbeat.

“Great-value South Indian vegetarian food at its best” is served at this long-running group with venues in Covent Garden, Fitzrovia, Hammersmith and Harrow. “Not at all your typical Indian restaurants”, they serve “food to convince that vegetarian and vegan cooking is good”, made with “fresh ingredients, lightly spiced and producing great flavours” – so “don’t let the decor put you off!”. Top Tip: “the dosas are a must”.

2021 Review: “Simply delicious south Indian cuisine” from the state of Tamil Nadu – including “the best dosas ever” – means this “justly popular independent” in Fitzrovia “is very different from your usual curry house”. “I’m slowly working my way through the menu and have yet to find something I don’t like”.

Adopting the site near Selfridges of Indian veteran Gaylord (RIP), this October 2020 newcomer is the first London venture of Rahul Khanna and Kabir Suri: the duo behind New Delhi-based Azure Hospitality, one of India’s more successful hospitality businesses. It’s named for one of Mumbai’s poshest suburbs, whose foodie heritage is a mash-up based on communal living. Here that translates to swish, contemporary decor and an eclectic menu which early survey (and newspaper) reports consider “well spiced, interesting Indian food”. Below is Bandra Bhai, a basement cocktail bar inspired by an illicit smuggling den.

“The dosas are always tasty and good value” at this cheap ’n’ cheerful café in the ‘Little India’ near Euston station, which has made a feature of an ‘all-you-can-eat’ vegetarian lunch buffet for many moons now.

“This long-standing institution” – “the first bhel poori house in Drummond Street” (the ‘Little India’ enclave behind Euston station) – offers “authentic and tasty vegetarian Indian street food for not much dosh”. There are “no surprises” here, and the “basic, very simple decor and pine furniture” are “unchanged in decades” – all part of the timewarp appeal to its legion of long-term habitués.

“Amazing Indian veg food at bargain prices”, not least the “tasty thali”, makes this well-established fixture one of the most popular in the Little India block behind Euston station, long-time home to “excellent value” South Asian scoff.

“Authentic, fast Indian food” is on the menu at this Soho outpost of a Manhattan chain, whose founder, Payal Saha, missed the street food of her native Kolkata – kati rolls, buttery parathas filled with grilled meat, cheese or vegetables.

A “low-key South Indian with welcoming, gracious staff”, this Bloomsbury Keralan serves “great meals full of good flavours”, from a “well-composed menu” with “a lot of vegetarian choices”.

Chinese-Indian Hakka cuisine incorporating some interesting ingredients (crab, rabbit, venison) help inspire enthusiastic (if limited) feedback for this Soho two-year-old. In late 2021, a sibling will open on a former Polpo site in Covent Garden featuring a new cocktail offering and unusual wines from organic producers across the globe.