Roti Chai

At this meal we sat in the downstairs dining room, which was a little less frenetic than the upstairs room but still completely full of diners quite early in the evening.  There is a short wine list with bottles such as Emile Petit Chablis 2013 at £45 compared to a retail price of £15, Tin Pot Hot Sauvignon Blanc 2012 at £38 for a label with a shop price of £12, and Taittinger champagne at £80 for a fizz that you can buy in the high street for £35.

Goan chilli prawns came with roasted garlic, a little coconut rice and a garnish of samphire. The prawns were very good indeed, tender and having an enjoyably spicy marinade (14/20). Bengali crab and fish cake were flavoured with onion seeds and cumin, the outside crisp and the filling having a respectable amount of crab flavour, all with a beetroot sauce (13/20).

Chicken tikka malai was tender, the meat having nicely absorbed the spices of the marinade (13/20). Potato with curry leaf had excellent texture and a subtle flavour from the curry leaves (14/20). Lamb kebabs had very good texture (13/20), as did a palak paneer curry (13/20). Naan bread was also supple and well made (13/20).

Service was excellent, and the bill came to £38 a head including beer and mineral water to drink. I really enjoyed my meal tonight, the dishes carefully made and representing fair value, and the atmosphere of Roti Chai was as lively as ever.