Half Decent curry near waterloo / royal festival hall ?

[KidKruger]

I'm meeting 8 or so Indian buddies in a bit at the RFH.

Usually we head up to Euston for South Indian fare but I was thinking is there anywhere passable around RFH/Waterloo area ?

Any suggestions appreciated.

[rendelharris]

Shaheen Tandoori in Waterloo Road is good - bit of a caff feel but good food and excellent value. Not huge so might be worth calling ahead to ask if they've room for a big group.

[mancity68]

There's one on The Cut I've been to a few times and enjoyed. Can't remember name.

[siousxiesue]

Next to Somerset House is an Indian hotel that you can walk in as a non resident and have good food.

[Seabag]

siousxiesue Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> Next to Somerset House is an Indian hotel that you

> can walk in as a non resident and have good food.

Isn't that one of the oldest in London

I've always wanted to go in

[Seabag]

This is the place soiuxiesue posted about (I think)

That's inspired me to go now, I'll be there next week

http://www.strand-continental.co.uk/About_Us.html

[titch juicy]

Thanks for that. I'll have to give that place a visit.

On a similar tip, everyone should try the Indian YMCA. Canteen like set up, everyone welcome and it's a wonderful people watching spot. Simple, cheap delicious.

http://www.indianymca.org/our-restaurant/

[KidKruger]

Yeah that strand place I remember reading about years ago, which reminds me I must reset my mind to try and go there one day soon.

Anyway. Part disaster, part OK.

On way up to RFH I checked this thread and had nowt suggested at that time, so I checked Indian restaurants in the Waterloo area on www. Closest was Chilli & Chutney (sounds like a curry house, right ?) so I called and booked a table for 10, so at least we had a table somewhere.

Did the RFH thang then arrived at the empty, brightly lit, stark 'restaurant'. The menu included 'all day breakfast', 'chilli con carne', 'set curry meal with bottle of coke'. The 8x Indians I was with looked nervous, they were being polite but it was clear they thought the place was shite. The manager / owner was halfway through taking the orders when we just decided we had to go or we were setting ourselves up for a really cringeworthy time.

We upped-sticks and the manager watched a couple of hundred quid walk out the door.

Strolled along to Plan B, the 'Thames' curry house right by Waterloo station - a review I'd read earlier said 'worst service ever, anywhere'. Oh well.

Turned out to be OK and the food was OK for a curry house and, by comparison to the C&C, actually saved the day.

I was quite embarrassed to have not done a walk-by of the first place before dragging my homies in there. Lesson well learned and will not be repeated.

Also I should have checked my thread, but recommendations noted for next time - thanks.

[malumbu]

Used to love the India Club in the Strand Continental - closest I have experienced to sub-continent dining unlike the formulaic curry houses. A certain tatty charm, and not licensed so you could either go to the bar upstairs or bring your own.

Last time wasn't so great so was it just a case of being over-familar, a bad night, or a drop in standards.

Love to know what others think. Google reviews are polarised, most love it, some hate it.

[PeckhamRose]

I just saw this thread and was going to recommend Thames. They do mango chicken and not many places do. Service was wonderful when we went. Food great and reasonable price too. But you've been there now so you know. ;)

[KidKruger]

That's right PR, Thames seemed OK.

To be honest though, going forward I think I'm taking these guys to non-'Indian' restaurants. There are plenty other cuisines for them to try and Bangladeshis don't cook to the Indians' (that I know) standard.

[Jeremy]

Yeah, most Indian people I know don't seem to go to the regular anglicised, Bangla-type curry house type places. They either eat in simple Indian caf?/canteen type places (there used to be a popular one near my office), or they go for pizza, chicken, burgers, etc.

Although I did once take some Indian colleagues to Cinnamon Kitchen in the city, and they really liked it...

[Seabag]

There's a vegetarian place up near the Opera that I like

https://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Restaurant_Review-g186338-d1699679-Reviews-Sagar_Vegetarian_Covent_Garden_Restaurant-London_England.html

[mancity68]

And try Ragam on Cleveland St. Very diverse clientele.

[KidKruger]

Cheers for these tips, I'll make a point of trying them with my Indian posse.

I was literally thinking of just showing them Western food places, but being they're almost all veggie the choices (from their perspective) are really poor.

If they ate meat I'd take them to places like Simpsons on the Strand, so they could try something a bit traditional.

South Asians have certainly nailed veggie cuisine (as you expect they'd have to), which is a hard act to follow.

[mancity68]

If you can get them to Peckham, Persepolis is great for veggies.

[KidKruger]

That's the Persian shop though isn't it Man ?

[mancity68]

Yes, but half the shop is now a very good sit in cafe serving , I guess, Persian veggie food. Not at all fancy but food is fab