And then there were two! Our favourite Indian restaurant now has a second location. Roop Partap Choudhary has brought his unique take on traditional Indian favourites to the heart of London. The very special décor that celebrates Roop's parents with works from their art collection, family photos and those amazing chandeliers is replicated at the new location. The homey and relaxing ambience has been recreated, and the service remains impeccable. Since we had previously enjoyed the Memsaab's Tasting Menu, this time we decided to be more adventurous and order à la carte. I started with a refreshing and easy to drink Colonel Saab, whiskey with a hint of coffee and chai, and my companion raved about the Pistachio and Coconut Lassi. To begin we nibbled on three different types of poppadoms with some flavoursome chutneys. Then, for starters we shared Kori Kempu, a curry flavoured Mangalorean fried chicken supreme with crispy rice noodles and chilli mayo. The chicken was nicely deep-fried in batter and still beautifully tender. We also enjoyed the Tandoori Broccoli which was prepared in a clay oven and served with a creamy sauce with Urfa chilli flakes. Restaurants so often overcook this vegetable, but in this case, it had maintained a lovely slightly crunchy texture. Like all of the dishes, the presentation of our other appetiser the Purani Dilli, a mini samosa with masala chickpeas, crispy sev and decorated with pomegranate, was quite delightful. We relished this fresh take on an old favourite. For mains we ordered Prawn Moilee which was cooked in a light spiced coconut milk curry, and a Paneer Pakeezah which was also served in a creamy sauce with silver leaf and green cress. We added to these a Hyderabadi Chicken Biryani. Each was of the highest standard and would tickle the most jaded palate. All the dishes were nicely spiced and not overly hot, and the portions were generous. We really couldn't finish our meal, but the staff kindly offered to pack up the remains for us to enjoy at home the next day. So was there room for dessert? Well, we did manage to share a deliciously rich Dark Chocolate Silk Cake with a Thandai crumble, candy floss, fresh berries and a vanilla bean ice cream! Colonel Saab also caters for larger parties and meetings while hosting various special events, like the children's classes. And, for the upcoming holiday they are offering a special Valentine's menu that promises to be the perfect treat for that special occasion!
Rated: ★★★★★
Reviewed by J.C.
Image: Kori Kempu - curry flavoured Mangalorean fried chicken supreme, crispy rice noodles, chilli mayo
When, Where, Getting there:
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