You should not, of course, judge a venue by its entrance, but the pavement-set blue lights and waterfall doorway could make you wonder what you're in for: an achingly self-conscious and substance-free pitch to appear different for the sake of it, or a reflection that diners might be onto an experience a touch fresher than the considerable range of nearby family-favourite curry restaurants
Thankfully, for those looking for a new take on Indian dining, the latter is true.
It's not that the food is streets ahead of the four or five neighbouring ventures, although it is good and, to survive, it needs to be. The place comes into its own through the surroundings; the flashy, blue-lit exterior giving perhaps a false sense of the decoration and atmosphere inside.
None of the comparable Boldmere restaurants have that 'curry hut' feel, but this is the one which is best placed to move beyond that familiar, brisk, white tablecloth-and-waistcoat shtick and enter into a more formal experience. Tasteful but without pretension and never forgetting, for all the professionalism, that it remains a suburban enterprise, Simla makes for a good choice among those looking for something new. read more