My parents have stayed a couple of times at the Brentford Premier Inn and my Mum was raving about an Indian last time she visited. She’s already planning her return when they’re next staying there. I didn’t know it by name but it checks out as Pappadums on the map.
She was telling me how vast the menu was and to be honest I couldn’t really believe it was any good. Shame on me.
I generally stay at the Premier Inn (although sometimes save a few quid at the Travelodge just down the road if they have a deal on). Pappadums is just at the back.
Next door to the Indian, when I last stayed about 18 months ago, is a really good Turkish called Galata Pera. They do an absolute killer starter of lamb’s liver. Next door to the Premier is the old fire station whioch has gone through a number of different guises in the time I’ve been staying there. Last time, there was a Cuban bar on the ground floor and a very decent Persian on the first floor. And, a few minutes walk down the road into the centre, there’s a lovely Italian place - La Rosetta. Proper old fashioned Italian place - with blokes actually speaking Italian.
I’m a bit embarrassed to mention the Thames Restaurant (almost at the end of the shopping area). But it is, by far, the best all-you-can-shovel down asian buffet I’ve eaten in.
Harters, my last visit to Veeraswamy a few years back was an unmitigated disaster. I probably can blame it on heightened expectations - the fact that Camellia Panjabi had taken over the kitchens at the time.
All the curries we ordered turned out looking the same and didn’t taste that much distinct from each other.
Perhaps I’ll leave Veeraswarmy as a childhood memory of cousin David.
Have you tried Indian Express on the North End Rd ?(really rather old school / not salubrious, but a cut above the crowd generally) I’m not sure about the vindaloo, but they carry off most other Anglo things pretty well (the tawa which is generally the staff curry is pretty good as is the razalah)
Or one stop up in quality / price, but not quite so ‘Chicken Tikka Masala’ - Indian Zing in Hammersmith?
Both pretty good local Anglo - Indian / Bangladeshi and local to you.
Did it use to have East African dishes? I did not know about that. When I ate there a few years ago, it was strictly Indian. I don’t remember much about the meal, but I remember I wasn’t fond of the biryani. What’s recommended at Tangawizi?
It was 2010 when I ate there. There’s nothing in my notes to indicate I had anything overtly East African (dunno what that might be, tbh) but I’m sure that there were some on the menu. I chatted to the owners who were definitely of East African Indian heritage and made a play that their spicing, etc had that spin to it.
That used to get frequent mentions by an Indian contributor to Chowhound. IIRC, it specialised on food from Maharashtra.
Lex
Another one for the parents. I keep meaning to try this but never seem to get round to it.
Literally round the corner from the Premier Inn is the Waterman’s Arms. You pass it on the way to Pappadums. Reason for mentioning it is, in amongst a fairly manky sounding pub grub menu of cottage pie, sausage & mash and the like, there’s three Japanese items - a yakisoba, katsu curry and oyakodonburi. From memory, the owner/chef lived in Japan for a while and just likes the food.
A few years since my last visit but Haandi (136 Brompton Road) pretty much fits the description. Its been going for nearly 30 years and doesn’t seem to have changed much.
It used to be my go to curry in central London when I wanted something good but not expensive (despite the location opposite Harrods - which oddly is the rear entrance) - good UK Indian comfort food.
My experience as well. Used to love it when it first opened and it was good food, well priced, and fun. But on my last visit I felt its time had passed and was very disappointed.
I ate at Veeraswamy’s a number of times about 10 years ago and really liked it (my parents used to go there when courting in the 1940’s). But subsequent reports sound like it may have gone off a bit. I also used to like Chutney Mary in the early 1990’s which was the teams first place in Chelsea - back then it was a real place to be seen…but on a a more recent visit it was quite ordinary.
If you are prepared to risk leaving civilization, you could do worse than Noor Jahan2 in Sussex Place, just north of the park, which I find has a fresher feel than the original. Opposite an excellent boozer too.
Also near there is Spice of India in Bathurst St., which is small and friendly.
Lastly, I took my (then) teenaged sons to Khan’s in Westbourne Grove a few years back, and we had a terrific meal.
That would explain why in my very vague memory the dishes I had tasted a bit different from typical Indian.
I like Rajastan II in the City, there are two other Rajastans. Good solid Anglo/Indian fare, that I end up eating every visit.
I don’t think it fits your criteria, but last trip to London I went to Benares in Mayfair, upscale and innovative Indian menu.
I work 200m from the original Rajasthan, and, yes, it’s excellent. We have office take-aways for lunch at least monthly. It would just feel very odd to come in to the Square Mile from SW7 for an evening meal, even though the tube connection is great for the Raj.
True, and I should have added that I hang in the Square Mile while there and RII is walking distance from my accommodations so it’s very convenient. Most places shut down on weekend in the City and it’s like a ghost town. Raj closes on Sat/Sun, so we are left with travelling or walking to Cafe Spice Namaste or Halal on weekends. Kinda fun to stroll as if I’m the only person left in London!
Along those lines, friends have visited a 24/7 restaurant at the top of a building in the City!!! I can’t imagine how they manage to stay open those hours, but they enjoyed the weekday breakfast.
I read this as though you were saying going to Cafe Spice Namaste was a second best. Surely not?
It’s one of my favourite Indians in the country. And, of course, genuinely Indian.
It is a very good place. But when you are craving mainstream Anglo\Indian curry, this innovative place is not what you’re looking for. On the other hand, people often laugh that we visit Halal although it is one of the few places open on the weekend. It is not bad, but we always seem to be the only people in there.
Fair point.
