Rasa

The excellent Rasa reproduces the cooking of Kerala. The dining room is very simple, and service relaxed and friendly.  You can nibble on the unusual popadom selection, which comes in a range of shapes and styles, while perusing the vegetarian menu. An example dish is Mysore Bonda,, three balls of vegetables encased in a chickpea flour batter and fried to a golden brown: crisp but not overdone. As you bite through the batter you encounter the predominantly potato filling, enlivened by coriander, black mustard seeds, ginger and curry leaves. As well as good dhosas (rice pancakes) the vegetable main courses are handled well e.g. a tarka dhal with lentils retaining their texture, laced with spices and topped with fresh coriander. The central London Dering Street branch (0207 629 1346) offers identical food but at about twice the price, though admittedly in smarter surroundings.