Oottupura

The review below is of historical interest only since Oottupura went out of business in the summer of 2007.  This was a real shame since the cooking was very good and the prices fair.  Given all the mediocre curry places in the area it is a great pity that this one didn't make it. It was 12/20 level when it closed.

This Keralan restaurant has been open since mid 2005. It has unprepossessing premises near Ravenscourt Park tube, with perhaps 40 covers. The popadoms are very similar to those at Rasa i.e. a mixture of styles including some fried plantain discs as well as more conventional popadoms; these were served with pleasant coconut chutney and quite sour onion chutney. A starter of madai vadai was two fried balls made with lentils laced with spices, a little plain but pleasant enough (11/20). Much better was excellent Mysore bonda, which was almost as good as the version at Rasa; it could have been a fraction warmer but the spicing was excellent and the texture inside light and fluffy (13/20). 

Utthapam is the South Indian version of a pizza, here laced with tomatoes and chillies as a topping and again of good texture (12/20).  Masala dosa had a crisp outside and well judged spiced potato filling (12/20).  Channa masala had fairly tender chickpeas, while a dish of shredded cabbage was pleasant but in this case could have done with a little more spice (11/20). Paratha was well made and non-greasy (12/20). Prices were very reasonable, with some of the starters at just £2.50, and a large bottle of Cobra under £4. Service was a little confused at times but amiable enough. This seems not to have done much in the way of PR but is far better than Sagar opposite, which got several good reviews in the papers and yet I found quite mediocre.