VeeraswamyOldest Indian in London
Address: Mezzanine Floor, Victory House - 99-101 Regent Street
W1R 7HB - Soho/West End
London
Nearest Bus or Train:Piccadilly Circus
Open Hours:12:30p-2.30pm & 5:30p-11p M-F, 12:30p-3p & 5:30p-11:30p Sa, 12:30p-3p & 6p-10p Su
Opened in 1926, London's first ever Indian restaurant is perennially packed. The now modern decor makes striking, and typically Indian, use of bold walls of colour - regal purple, green, gold and intense orange. The waiters are dressed to match, providing a service as superb as the food. Every morsel is divine, including the accompanying fresh chutneys, raitas, dahls and breads. The refined menu blends tradition with groundbreaking New Indian cuisine, incorporating regional specialities and impressively interesting vegetarian options. Try a Moilee starter - a sublime bowl of mussels cooked in a creamy coconut soup with a dash of chilli. Mains are magnificent, especially succulent swordfish steak cooked in the tandoor with turmeric, cumin and lemon, or the suitably pricey, rich Malabar lobster curry, balanced by fresh turmeric and raw mango. If you like it hot, try achaar gosht - a lamb dish cooked with fiery chilli and pickling spices - it's invigoratingly delicious, but overall, subtlety and quality reign supreme. A well-considered wine list and refreshing after-dinner infusions such as fresh mint, or lemon rind are liquid luxury.
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