London Indian Restaurant

macl

Hey Foodies,

I'm heading to London in a few weeks and would love to check out a great Indian place. Similar to the place in Dundrum (Ananda).

Would anyone have any recommendations?

Cheers

NeitherJohn

I ate in Mela Restaurant over Christmas. Quite nice. Bit pricey but big portions!

It's on 156 Shaftesbury Ave. I think I got off the Tube at Tottenham Court Road and walked it form there. It's near enough to the Shaftesbury Theatre.

McG

can't vouch for quality but you could always head to Brick Lane for some quantity (for the uninitiated it's a street full of Indian restaurants)

macl

McG wrote: »

can't vouch for quality but you could always head to Brick Lane for some quantity (for the uninitiated it's a street full of Indian restaurants)

Thanks - but I'm looking for something more up market this time around.

Dizzyblonde

OP I've moved this to the London forum because I'm sure you'll get a lot more helpful replies in here.

Fysh

Unless you've got a specific recommendation there's a good chance you'll get cheap and rubbish curry in Brick Lane; its reputation means you get lots of tourists heading there (including drunk ones) and that means that some places cater to them rather than to a more refined palate.

Given the size of London, though, you'd want to tell us whereabouts you'll be going rather than getting recommendations across the other side of the city - I've had a couple of very nice curries here, but I wouldn't be arsed going all the way across town for one; good curryhouses aren't rare here.

macl

Good shout - I recon I'll be based in the city - around Marble arch / Mayfair. Don't mind riding the tube for a few stops though

skimpydoo

I had a lovely meal 5 years ago in a restaurant in Kensington. I have forgotten the name of the restaurant but any Indian restaurant around Kensington will be right up your street.

Fysh

skimpydoo wrote: »

I had a lovely meal 5 years ago in a restaurant in Kensington. I have forgotten the name of the restaurant but any Indian restaurant around Kensington will be right up your street.

That is, uh, not how recommendations are usually made o_O

Feathers

McG wrote: »

can't vouch for quality but you could always head to Brick Lane for some quantity (for the uninitiated it's a street full of Indian restaurants)

Full of bad, Bangladeshi restaurants. I'd head to Tayyabs in Whitechapel instead, if you're over the east end if the city. Pakistani place, great tandoori stuff.

If you're down south, Tooting Broadway (northern line) has some great value South Indian restaurants. You'll get fantastic food & well fed for under £10, though I'd call it authentic rather than upmarket.

Aside from that Dishum is a good option in central or Shoreditch & Masala Zone (all over) is much better than it sounds

baboo800

Zeera in Ealing is beautiful

5unflower

For Michelin star Indian food you could always try Benares or Tamarind, both in Mayfair. I think Tamarind is the slightly more affordable option of the two.

Fysh

If you're round Kilburn, Ruchi has great food and is very wallet-friendly to boot.

skimpydoo

Fysh wrote: »

That is, uh, not how recommendations are usually made o_O

I know that but the op was looking for a fancy Indian and you will find loads in Kensington.

BraziliaNZ

Maharaji or Mahasomething in Soho is quite good if you want something central. Brick Lane can be good, there's a place called Cinnamon, if you can part the sea of hawkers like Moses and get over there somehow, and it's BYO and cheap as chips.

Curry Addict

i would recommend Benares in mayfair. its expensive but the food is really amazing. best indian ive ever eaten.

FTA69

BraziliaNZ wrote: »

Maharaji or Mahasomething in Soho is quite good if you want something central. Brick Lane can be good, there's a place called Cinnamon, if you can part the sea of hawkers like Moses and get over there somehow, and it's BYO and cheap as chips.

Cinnamon is good. Next door to it is a place called Aladin's which is also great. Basically the pair of them are the best in Brick Lane in my opinion and if you look them up you'll see they always end up in the top of any list for the area.

In Whitechapel you have Tayyabs and the Needo Grill and they are for more authentic Pakistani cuisine. They are also really cheap and the grub is absolutely fantastic. Get the lamb chops.

I was in the East London and Brick Lane mosques last week as part of a delegation and funnily enough everyone there said most places in Brick Lane were dog-sh*t and Tayyabs etc isn't anywhere near the best place to go in their opinions. Cue a massive debate in Bengali about where the best grub in town is!

Personally I think the best "Indian" (and I'm a curry fanatic) is Jeshaan's in Turnpike Lane. It's a dodgy area and the decor is awful but the food in there is second to none. No vindaloos or any of that sh*t; it's all real stuff. Spiced leg of lamb, grilled fish, prawn rice etc. It's the absolute b*llocks.

Fratton Fred

FTA69 wrote: »

It's a dodgy area and the decor is awful

The two most important things to look for when looking for good India cuisine!

FTA69

Just spent an afternoon with a Punjabi Sikh (via Greave's End!) from our IT department and we had a good discussion on proper Indian food. I mentioned that I spoke with Bangladeshis in Brick Lane mosque and they said Tayyabs was only fair and he was incredulous. He says Tayyabs is easily one of the best restaurants in the country and serves proper Punjabi food that attracts Pakistanis and Indians from all over London; and what would Bengalis know anyway because half of their restaurants only serve up slop to p*ssheads.

It's too difficult to get a consensus I think. I've been to Tayyabs and it's one of the best munches I've ever had.

Go to Tayyabs. You won't be disappointed.

frag420

I second Tayyabs...................Any place that has a guy out front with a fluorescent jacket with 'Tayyabs Crowd Control' written on it has to be good!!

I sh1t you not!!

Fratton Fred

What's the kebab shop in brick lane? It isn't actually a kebab shop, bit it's called the Bengali kebab shop or something like that.

FTA69

frag420 wrote: »

I second Tayyabs...................Any place that has a guy out front with a fluorescent jacket with 'Tayyabs Crowd Control' written on it has to be good!!

I sh1t you not!!

Make a booking and go early, like straight after work and you'll be grand.

djpbarry

skimpydoo wrote: »

I had a lovely meal 5 years ago in a restaurant in Kensington. I have forgotten the name of the restaurant...

Zaika? Yep, that might the kind of thing the OP's after:

http://www.zaika-restaurant.com

I ate there once. Food was good, but expensive and it is a well posh place. Staff were a bit arsey too, to be honest.

skimpydoo wrote: »

...but any Indian restaurant around Kensington will be right up your street.

I wouldn't agree with that at all. I lived near Earl's Court for a few months and good restaurants in the general Kensington area are few and far between - almost everything is a chain.

maggiep2010

Tayyabs without a doubt... upmarket it isn't, but the food is amazing... as is the queue, so book it!!

FTA69

Went there yesterday, lamb and lentil curry and a roti with authentic apples juice for ten bucks on the nose.

Handy number.

FTA69

Fratton Fred wrote: »

What's the kebab shop in brick lane? It isn't actually a kebab shop, bit it's called the Bengali kebab shop or something like that.

Lahore, it's Punjabi and its a great spot.

woof im a dog

for something a bit different try bombay burrito in angel!

Feathers

FTA69 wrote: »

Lahore, it's Punjabi and its a great spot.

Is in Whitechapel, but agree that it is very good.

Cheetara

FTA69 wrote: »

Lahore, it's Punjabi and its a great spot.

I'm glad someone mentioned this place.....I would recommend it above Tayyabs (controversial I know).

frag420

if anyone is based in north London near Turnpike Lane then I recommend Thali Thal indian take away. It delivers too and is soooo worth it, the food is delish and the portion size are big. Only time I have never finished an indian meal is when I order from here, makes for a great leftover lunch the next day!!

Nyom nyom nyom nyom

frAg

FTA69

Holy Cow takeaway is also savage, they have branches all over London and they're delicious. Real good quality grub.

ClashCityRocker

FTA69 wrote: »

Holy Cow takeaway is also savage, they have branches all over London and they're delicious. Real good quality grub.

Agree with this, went there a week or two ago for the first time having lived near one for the last three years. It won't be another three years til my next one, excellent stuff.

enda1

In fairness Tayyabs, Lahore and Needoos are really not like what the OP is asking for. They are no frills, unctuous establishments where you're treated like the meat they serve. Food's usually decent - nothing special and certainly nothing approaching gourmet.

Unfortunately OP I can't recommend many places in London that are very nice for Indian food. I went to the Cinnamon Club once in Westminster which was decent. Had an early bird and it was quite good value. Wine's dear though.

Feathers

enda1 wrote: »

In fairness Tayyabs, Lahore and Needoos are really not like what the OP is asking for. They are no frills, unctuous establishments where you're treated like the meat they serve. Food's usually decent - nothing special and certainly nothing approaching gourmet.

Unfortunately OP I can't recommend many places in London that are very nice for Indian food. I went to the Cinnamon Club once in Westminster which was decent. Had an early bird and it was quite good value. Wine's dear though.

Clearly noone who's mentioned these places is trying to pretend they're gourmet - they're offering the alternative that what the OP considers "great food" and "upmarket" mightn't go hand-in-hand.