Opened in summer 2001 this new restaurant is tucked away in a lane just outside East Peckham (the village in Kent, not a suburb in South East London!) in a former pub (formerly the Addlestead Tavern for those who know their pubs). It has been extensively refurbished to provide a comfortable, modern and roomy reception area with a bar, separate dining areas including a conservatory style extension at the rear. All of this has created a stylish, large and roomy restaurant which seats 120 people in total. Pale wooden floors, good quality table linen and smart, waistcoated waiters complete the picture of the contemporary Indian restaurant.

The menu is extensive and, in addition to most of the usuals, offers a few less common dishes. The first time I visited we had Peshwari Chicken (chicken tikka cooked with onion and capsicum with spices and herbs) - which was a fairly mild dish despite the menu description of ‘medium’ - of chicken in a tasty, reddish and faintly sweetish tomato based sauce containing the onions and capsicums and was as much herbed as spiced. The Lamb Tikka Dhansak had more fire, with tender chunks of well cooked lamb in a thick, dark, full flavoured and spicily hot sauce, and although cooked with the necessary lentils, it wasn’t overwhelmed by them. The Chicken Tikka Pathia on the second visit was also reasonably spicy, with a pleasant sweet/sour balance, but the Tandoori Chicken was less marinated than is usual, without the marinade percolating into the meat, with the consequence it was less tasty than average. However, the chicken was meaty enough.

The accompanying vegetable dishes on both occasions were all OK. Vegetable Bhaji comprised relatively small pieces of vegetable but nicely spiced while the Bombay Potato was a good example of the dish. Aloo Gobi also pleasantly spiced, but the Tarka Dall was rather thick and creamy, rather like custard in appearance as well as texture (although it did have the right garlic and spice flavours nonetheless). Therefore the vegetable dishes were fine without being anything special - a reasonable average shall we say.

Prices are slightly above average, but then the restaurant is probably above average, being of the modern contemporary style. Portions sufficient and service efficient, welcoming and friendly.

All in all it provides a good, although not outstanding, formula curry in a very pleasant atmosphere and is a little above the average Indian restaurant. I did comment in my first report that it has to be above average to attract the trade to survive, as its rural location is not one for passing trade. On the first occasion most tables were taken, but on this occasion (both Saturday evenings) most tables were empty. I hope this does not mean it's struggling, but it may be that it has to be substantially above the average rather than just a little above to persuade people to drive there.

Malcolm Wilkins -August 2005