London curry & vegetarian
My first trip back to London for almost ten years this September and apart from sinking into the dark corner of a cosy pub somewhere with a pint in my hands I really want a good solid Indian English curry – nothing chic or refined or delicately authentic, just good quality pakoras and bhajis and nan and daal and a good vegetarian main dish in a good traditional London curry house.
Otherwise, I’m also looking for some good general vegetarian cooking, it would be great in fact to find somewhere that matched up to the best veggie food I’ve ever eaten – vegan, in fact – at an idyllic place on the west coast of Scotland, sadly closed these many years, where a genius called Tony Weston brought a robust flair and witty creativity to the table – who can forget dishes like Hector’s Haggis Boats, Crofter’s Crumpets or Bonnie Prince Pudding? Anywhere that suggests itself??
stuartJ
Jul 24, 2008 02:59AM
Kastoori in Tooting is veggie and has delicious East African Gujerati food. The tomato curry is particularly good.
The Gate in Hammersmith is a well-known vegetarian restaurant with a pleasant atmosphere. Its food is a bit over fussy and fancy but the flavours are good. Their puds are less successful.
The Salt Yard in goodge street has Italian and Spanish tapas, some of which are vegetarian.
I don't know of any good pubs near any of htese, I'm afraid.
Have just thought - if you can get to south London, The Nightingale in Nightingale Lane in Balham is a lovely pub, used to be Youngs before the tragic demise, and is next door to the Bombay Bicycle Club, which has a good reputation.
Permalink | Reply
I've been reading about Manna near Primrose Hill... looks good on paper! Anyone tried it??
Permalink | Reply
I ate one of the worst meals I've ever had the misfortune to eat at Manna. I was vegetarian at the time as well, so it wasn't a desire to eat meat or anything like that. Tasteless, bland rubbish.
I always really enjoyed Mildreds on Lexington Street though, which is worth checking out.
For good veggie indian food, you could go south Indian or Kerelan. It's not the "traditional" stuff you'd be used to in London but I think it's better and it's proper veggie, not just veggie adaptations. Rasa in Stoke Newington and Jai Krishna in Finsbury Park (which I've recommended on here before :) ) both do great dahl.
I'd second the recommendation of Kasturi above as well.
Permalink | Reply
I like Sadya in Balham for Kerelan food -- get the vegetarian sadya, with a variety of dishes (essentially like a thali).
Permalink | Reply
Try the Royal Tandoori on Holland Park Avenue opposite the Hilton hotel. Very good and has been there for 30+ years.
Permalink | Reply
Sagar, King Street, Hammersmith
London Eating reviews are out of date http://www.london-eating.co.uk/3760-3... but the place is as good as ever. My husband works across the street and takes people out to lunch there all the time and it never fails to impress. He works with musicians who are all extremely well travelled and serious foodies.
Permalink | Reply
I seem to be homing in so far on Moti Mahal, Rasa Samudra, Sagar and Malabar Junction for Indian, Mildreds, Manna or Eat and two veg for veggie, and maybe a stop for the carnivorous wife at Savoir Faire that Buttertart recommends, also near the hotel… still looking for a more old fashioned, traditional sort of Indian place, though, where the CW can get stuck into her chicken bhuna!
Permalink | Reply
I ate at Blah, Blah, Blah quite a few years ago. I can't vouch for this veggie place now, but maybe someone else can. I'd choose that over Mildred's, which I found too crowded and not that special. I hope others can chime in. Blah, Blah is in Shepherd's Bush. I'm not a vegetarian and it was one of my first experiences in such a restaurant. I should probably try it again one day.
Permalink | Reply
I had a rather dismal experience at Blah, Blah, Blah a few years ago. And have been to Mildred's a few times, and each time I think my version is wildly better (and cheaper). I've never been to The Gate, but the cookbook is impressive-- recipes and techniques that I don't try at home. I haven't been to Saf, the new raw vegan place by old street, but there are plenty of reviews. My husband and I are vegetarians, and we like rasa in stoke newington, and the gujarti mother and daughter team that are sometimes at broadway market. We contemplated ottolenghi the other day which has plenty of vegetarian food but it looked kinda wilted in the window.
Permalink | Reply
FWIW I still like Food For Thought if you're looking for casual vegetarian meals. I second Rasa, too.
Re meaty, traditional Indian curries I've always had a great reaction when I've taken people to gulshan tandoori in exmouth market, EC1 I'm a meat eater, so have limited experience of veggie dishes there, though the mutter paneer (peas and cheese) and tarka dal are really tasty and rate up there as the best i've had
Permalink | Reply
Couple of thoughts. Haandi in Knightsbridge is a good "traditional high street" curry house that is a cut above the norm. Another good bet is "Mela" in Shaftsbury Avenue (http://www.melarestaurant.co.uk/) - very "high street" despite the location.
Permalink | Reply