Art of Spices is the best. I am Raymond Penn, and I approve this message.read more

Art of Spices is - hands down - the best Indian takeaway I've ever had in London. And I've been…read moreliving here for 8 years. It *kills* me that this place isn't a restaurant - or doesn't publicize itself better. Once, I called them after my delivery to tell them how good their poppadoms were. I kid you not. Highlights include their King Prawn Chilli curry, which makes my eyes water (and yet I always go back for more). Prawns are huge, succulent, and the curry is flavourful and delicious. Their peshwari naan is also a winner: soft, fluffy and wonderfully coconut-y in the centre. Heaven in a baked flatbread. Orders have always arrived promptly (except for once, which I'll forgive) and they're always polite and helpful over the phone when ordering, so that's a plus. I will be so sad if I ever move away from this place.

One thing I can say about this place is that the portions are great. I got the option for all three…read moreseasonal dishes and it was hard to finish because there was just so much food there. Nothing bad about this place at all!

Took a Gujarati friend here for dinner last night. I figured, what better way to benchmark Gujarati…read morefood than with a Gujarati foodie? Gujarati Rasoi has a cool vibe, Dalston hipster style. The kitchen is open, and the smell of the food permeates everywhere, which is a good thing when you're inside, but beware; your clothes will need some aerating after dinner ;) The menu is simple and short. You can tell that this is going to be home cooking style. As we were 2, and we wanted to sample most of the menu, we agreed to take all 3 starters and have 3 small plates from the mains, along with rice and raita. The Papri chaat was authentic, but needed a bit more kick according to my friend. Still, we very much enjoyed it and wolfed it down ravenously. The Ringan Burthu Ne Rotla was also very delicious. The Millet bread was a bit on the dry side, but the aubergine topping with caramelised onions was addictive. We washed those down with some nice house cocktails that is recommend. The palak paneer was different than want I'm used to. The spinach was served wilted, and it felt like a nice, earthy, healthy dish for once. The sukaria was delicious and I highly recommend it. We couldn't get enough of it. The sweet potatoes were perfectly stewed. The methi (flat bread) was more disappointing, as it was a bit dry and bland. The rice was tasty and the raita was beautifully presented (reminded me of Bircher muesli). For dessert, we shared a chai kulfi and it was absolutely delicious. I have high hopes for the pista kulfi which I fully intend to order next time I'm here. All in all very good food, all vegetarian, and reasonably priced (~32£ per head with a cocktail each). I'll definitely be back.

We had a big family lunch at Dishoom when we were in London last month, and it was everything I…read morehoped for, an Indian restaurant unlike any I've encountered at home. I feel like all my friends who've been to London have come back talking about this place, and I'm happy to join their ranks. Dishoom was also one of a handful of dining options recommended by my hotel concierge for a party of 11, including kids. Booking was easy, via SevenRooms, no phone calls or emails necessary. It's a large restaurant, and part of a popular chain--I guess they have things figured out. The space was great, open and casual, exposed ceilings and eclectic decor. Lots of fans, which my three-year-old appreciated. Service was friendly and attentive. I started my lunch with a drink, a refreshing green India Gimlet, gin and Rose's lime with celery bitters and fresh dill. I also tried and liked a sip of the New Permit Room Old-Fashioned, a slightly sweet cocktail with coconut-washed bourbon, Pedo Ximénez sherry, and Medjool date liqueur. There was only one menu available for a party of our size, a pre-set family-style group feast for eight adults, to which we added a pre-ordered platter of lamb chops. I loved the variety of dishes that came with this meal, and every one of them was ridiculously delicious. (There was less available for the three small American children, but they loaded up on hotel breakfast and snacked on naan and colorful puffed crackers.) The first round brought trays loaded with keema pau, okra fries, and bhel, along with lime, cilantro, and sauces for serving. The keema pau was incredible, probably my favorite dish of our lunch, if in part because it was 100% new to me. It was a spicy, aromatic blend of minced lamb and peas with dill and lindi pepper, served with toasted, buttered buns to make little sliders. So much flavor, it almost explained, by itself, why the British could never leave India alone. The okra fries were warm and crispy, and I loved the bhel, a crunchy snack of puffed rice, peanuts, and Bombay Mix tossed with pomegranate, tomato, onion, lime, tamarind, and mint. The main course was another giant spread: chicken ruby, house black daal, awadhi jackfruit biryani, and chilled broccoli salad, plus our charred lamb chops, with sides of roti, naan, and raita. The chicken ruby was the highlight here, a fragrant, comforting curry with tender chicken in a buttery makhani sauce. The house black daal is a Dishoom signature, and it was lovely, cooked for over 24 hours. The biryani was fluffy and nice, studded with jackfruit, barberries, and sultanas. The broccoli salad was a fresh hit of green, enhanced with pistachio, mint, red chillies, pumpkin and sunflower seeds, dates, and lime. The lamb chops made for a hearty entrée with a lot of flavor, the lamb marinated, grilled, and finished with Kashmiri chilli sauce. The thin, griddled roomali roti and the fresh-baked naan were both great accompaniments, as was the minty, cucumbery raita. For dessert, we had a choice of kulfi, creamy ice pops available in mango, pistachio, or malai, the original flavor touched with caramel. All three were superb, so cold and milk, easy to throw down the hatch. This was, it turned out, an enormous feast, but everything was so delicious and well balanced that I didn't notice how much I was eating until I got up. I was still full several hours later, when we went to dinner. If you want to eat Indian food in London, you should definitely find your nearest Dishoom. It's a wonderful restaurant, with top-notch food and no hassle. I certainly intend to go again.

I was finally able to try Dishoom on my last trip to London and we came by with a large group so…read morewere lucky to try a variety of dishes. First, I started with the mango lassi which was so fresh and naturally sweet. I loved the fennel seeds on top for added flavor. Such a great start to the meal. My favorites of the night were the chicken ruby (a must order and crowd pleaser), lamb biryani, and black daal. The chilli chicken was also a super flavorful app to share and the garlic naan was great as well. Everything is nicely flavored and I appreciate how patient and understanding the staff were with the food allergies and restrictions our group had. Definitely a must in London!

WOW! The best Indian takeaway ever. Really nice family-run place with clean kitchen that you can…read moresee when you're ordering. Five Stars. Try the Lamb Dansak.

The food from Green Chutney is fresh, delicious and the best quality. Plus: it's wonderfully…read morepriced. I stopped in on my way home and in about 20 minutes I had 2 appetizers, 2 mains, pilau rice, Naan and chutney for under 20 pounds (enough food for dinner for 2 people easily). If that's not enough, this is a friendly family run business who also pay attention to the environment. That seals it for me. We recently moved to the area and after ordering some very overpriced indian delivery elsewhere, tried Green Chutney. The channa puri appetizer was almost meal-sized and loaded with flavourful chickpeas on a freshly prepared, soft flatbread. Yum! Paneer Makhni was so creamy and sweet with complex flavours. I also tried the Chicken Karahi which had entirely different flavours due to the green peppers and other spices. I don't like spicey hot food and their medium level was perfect for me - the flavour of chili and spices came through without overpowering the dish. Very very very tasty... I think I might have to order some tonight!!

Having originally only went to Dishoom's Carnaby location, I came here for the first time because…read morethis is my friend's preferred Dishoom location. I see why she prefers coming here! The restaurant has gotta be like 4x the size of Carnaby. Not just that, the ambience is way better here. The tables are way more spaced out, so you don't feel super cramped. The open space helps negate the strong Indian spices that emanate from the kitchen. And it just feels way more comfortable. Anyways, our reservation was right at the tail end of the breakfast menu hours and right before the regular menu began, so we were able to get a Sausage & Egg Naan Roll to start. Also had the Lamb Biryani, Goan Monkfish Curry, Mutton Pepper Fry, and Murgh Malai. I mean basically everything at Dishoom is great, and this was no exception. Service was fantastic. Everyone was very friendly and welcoming! I love Dishoom, so you'll have to find a reason for me to not come here. Really good stuff!

Came here after many recommendations from friends and my Instagram feed--and it absolutely lived up…read moreto the hype. The vibe is warm and lively, the service was great, and the food was delicious . The Paneer, House Black Daal, roti and parathas, crispy okra, chai and lassi were all delicious. Definitely worth the wait, and I'd happily come back when in London!!

Before I start this review, I need to say that I really really wanted this place to fantastic…read more My wife and I are both big fans of the sister street food stall on Broadway Market and thought that we would give the restaurant a try. However, this place manages to deliver far inferior food at more than double the price. Firstly, to dwell on the positives. The space has been well-designed. There are small tables, low lighting and a nice buzz to the place. My only complaint would be that the tables are so close that you are almost dining on top of your fellow guests. However, the food is terribly disappointing. My palak paneer was undercooked. Five pieces of lightly charred paneer on a bed of almost raw spinach. This cost nearly £12 pounds. My wife ordered a bean curry. It had such as astringent taste that she had to leave most of it. Rice and bread were an additional cost. Service was brisk but hurried. We were left waiting to order a second drink and decided to pass in the end. My overall impression was that this place is charging medium to high end prices for low end food. The final bill was over £55 with a shared starter, two mains and two drinks. At £30 it might have looked like decent value. If you are looking for nice vegetarian Indian food - try Rasa up the road on Stoke Newington Church Street.

Very tasty vegetarian food and definitely an enjoyable dining experience…read more The layout and atmosphere are what you would expect of a Dalston eatery - canteen style and sparse. There's a bit of a sales emphasis on the 'authenticity' of the menu and the food which made me a touch sceptical, but the taste compensated for that. (I have no idea if this was an authentic taste but it was good!) The waiting staff, although a touch slow to take orders and rather hurried when they did, were very pleasant. Overall, it's the price tag that left me a little disappointed. The portions were enough to leave you satisfied - we shared a starter, two mains and two sides - but it just felt a little bit too much to pay...

Abiruchi is a lovely Indian restaurant serving signature dishes from Kerala in South India. The…read moretaste of South India is quite different from what most people associate with Indian food. the dishes have many different spices but they are not hot as such. The menu is great and there is a really good choice of fish and seafood dishes, not often found in indian restaurants. The wine list is reasonable both in choice and price and they have kingfisher on draught. The staff were really friendly, helpful and attentive. They were happy to explain some of the more strange dishes. The food is similar to that of Rasa very close by and my choice was equally tasty. I think this place is often overlooked as Rasa keeps getting good reviews in different London guides, but it is definitely worth a visit.

Abi Ruchi is one of my favourite Indians in London. The food is very similar to nearby Rasa (South…read moreIndian) and there is a great choice of veg and meat food here. The service is always excellent they are really friendly people. Paneer & Peas on the Special menu is outstanding as is the Lassi. The only reason I didn't give 5 stars is the decor whilst been clean needs a refurbopen the place up, make it so you can see in from the windows..make it a little more funkyHighly Recommended.

Great food and service. The staff were friendly and helpful. The food had wonderful flavor and the…read moredesert is really fun and yummy.

Excellent Indian restaurant with a mainly local clientele hidden away on Cross St in Islington…read morebetween the A1 & A104. Food was great & service (late on a Friday evening) was attentive, The ambiance was modern (less ornate than many similar restaurants). They have recently expanded from 45 to 95 seats - presumably an indication of their success. Meal for 3, with wine, came to £99.

I arrived here last Sunday night and was very pleased with the array of veg options, especially veg…read moreoptions I don't find on other Indian menus. I opted for the nair dosa full of veggies and was quite pleased with the heft and types of veggies inside: beetroot, onion, potatoes, carrots (I think), etc. Really tasty and filling. However, the rasa idli was very bland and I tossed two of them away at home. The uznunappam was also blander than I would have liked. I would still return for the dosa and some other selections if in the area.

Rasa Travancore if it wasn't for your vegetarian sister across the road I would have given you 4…read morestars. Sadly, by comparison, you will always be second best. Your curries are still great (vegetarian selection starting at £3.90) and your lemon rice so, so tasty. Sadly, your sister just has far more buzz about her. She is the Kylie to your Dannii, the Beyonce to your Solange, the Britney to your Jamie-Lynn (pre-crazy of course!). The food here is still high quality but the service slightly lacking. I hate being seated against the window of an empty restaurant- it's always uncomfortable to have people looking in, staring at your food and weighing up whether it's worth popping in. There was a little fuss when we asked to move tables but to give Rasa its credit, they shifted us over fairly swiftly. We shared a poppadom selection which was great but spiced chicken chutney had an unpleasant foamy texture. The two vegetarian curries we ordered were very tasty but we had to choose from half the selection we could have had across the road. Sharing an over sized beer kept the price down to a reasonable £10 a head. All in all, good, but not great, try Rasa Vegetarian instead!