Tangawizi

I have been a regular at Tangawizi for many years. It is in an unassuming setting just at the Twickenham end of Richmond bridge. The room is long and narrow and the décor fairly basic, but the cooking is of a much higher standard than you would expect in what is essentially a local restaurant.

There is a short wine list starting at £15.95, with bottles such as Echeverria Sauvignon Blanc 2014 at £18.95 for a bottle that you can find in the high street for a tenner, Finkenhauer Riesling 2014 at £28.95 compared to its retail price of £11, and Grand Tinel Chateauneuf du Pape 2011 at £41.95 for a wine that will set you back £26 in the shops.

Tonight I started with pani puris, little hollow crisp spherical dough balls with a hole at the top. Inside this is a vegetable filling including moong beans and potaoes and sev (seasoned crunchy noodles). A sweet and sour effect is achieved by adding a sweet tamarind chutney and a spicy, tangy liquid, all of which combined bursts on to the tongue when you bite through the sphere. The rendition here was nice (13/20), though I still yearn for the dazzling version at the late lamented Sabras. 

Methi chicken was very good, with a rich butter sauce falvoured with fenugreek and other spices (14/20). Spicy prawns were also good, marinated with spices though cooked just a touch longer than ideal (13/20). Aloo gobi was good, the cauliflower and vegetables retaining there texture well, enlivened by spices (14/20). Naan bread was excellent, supple and soft (14/20).

For dessert we shared a well-made halwa, the classic sweet carrot dessert made with condensed milk and pistachios. This was served warm and had very good flavour (14/20). Service was excellent, the staff always being very friendly here. The bill came to £40 a head with beer to drink. Tangawizi is a very good restaurant, a couple of notches better than most local Indian establishments.

Further reviews: 21st Aug 2018 | 16th Aug 2015 | 26th Jun 2013