Local Indian restaurants on trial!

Friendly chat, questions, reviews, find old friends or relatives. Not limited to Sydenham only issues but keep it civil!
Falkor
Posts: 1371
Joined: 10 Feb 2006 17:45
Location: Surrey Quays

Local Indian restaurants on trial!

Post by Falkor »

Forest Hill seems to be pretty good for Indian restuarants--with tight competition! Here's the ones I've tried so far....

Kafe La

Dhansak - good!


Elachi

Jalfrezi - excellent!
Dhansak - good!


Dewaniam? (Stanstead Road)

Jalfrezi - good! (sizzling)
Dhansak - very good!


Dewaniam? (Westdale Road)

Take away only :(


Babur (Brockley)

Dhansak - average


Ghurka's (Sydenham High Street)

Dhansak - good!


Garam Masala (Sydenham High Street)

Dhansak - average


Surmar (East Dulwich)

Dhansak - rubbish!


Viva Goa (Upper Norwood)

Dhansak - rubbish!


Red Rose (Opposite Gypsy Hill station)

Dhansak - good


I'm very impressed with the knowledge of the staff at Elachi!!! They know what they're talking about and take constructive critism very well and able to offer counter arguements! These guys are good... Unfortunately, Sydenham or Forest Hill do not appear to have any good Chinese restuarants. Only the Chinese nearest to Dartmouth Arms pub knew what Crispy Pork was; the waiter here is very knowledgeable and even admitted crispy pork as being his favourite dish even though their restuarant doesn't serve it because of the complicated process involved. However, he said their restaurant did once offer Pork Chop with Salt and Chilli for a limited trial period, but it was not ordered enough. Anyway, I've had a lot of terrible curries in many different areas, including Orpington x 2, Farningham High Street and Swanley. Forest Hill and Sydenham is doing pretty good; stay tuned for more updates! I've got a table booked with Elachi to try out their Dhansak next...
Last edited by Falkor on 17 Nov 2007 22:29, edited 7 times in total.
sophie
Posts: 350
Joined: 8 May 2005 16:50
Location: Sydenham

Post by sophie »

Have you tried the Babur yet?
Falkor
Posts: 1371
Joined: 10 Feb 2006 17:45
Location: Surrey Quays

Post by Falkor »

No, where's that?

So far Elachi is the best and has this amazing red sauce to go with the popadums, using no less than 10 ingredients!
pip
Posts: 462
Joined: 17 Jan 2006 16:35
Location: adamsrill

Post by pip »

The Babur is on the left opposite the Chandos pub on Brockley Road.
One of my favourites and been there many times. I agree that the Elachi takes some beating.
Julsb
Posts: 98
Joined: 6 Mar 2005 18:16
Location: Sydenham

Post by Julsb »

Has anyone else had a flyer from the new Bombay Brasserie in East Dulwich? It's a little confusing, as it seems to suggest they're not delivering to Sydenham yet they're pushing menus through letter boxes here.
Richie
Posts: 40
Joined: 21 Aug 2007 14:00
Location: Sydenham

Post by Richie »

Has anyone treid the new Indian down past mexican restaurant? It's called the Gara Masala and looks like it opened this week.
Steve Grindlay
Posts: 606
Joined: 4 Oct 2004 05:07
Location: Upper Sydenham

Post by Steve Grindlay »

Julsb, we've also had a leaflet from the Bombay Bicycle Club, which has just opened in East Dulwich. In Sydenham they only deliver to SE26 4 and SE26 6 postcodes. We ordered online, and are looking forward to trying their food this evening.
poppy
Posts: 574
Joined: 1 Sep 2007 20:03
Location: Sydenham

Poppy

Post by poppy »

I'm surprised no one has mentioned Gurkas on the high street. Their food is amazing - dominated by traditional Nepalese dishes, food-wise it is far superior to places like Babur in my opinion - which I know has a great reputation. It is definately a case of more substance over style but I would really recommend it.
Falkor
Posts: 1371
Joined: 10 Feb 2006 17:45
Location: Surrey Quays

Post by Falkor »

Barbur, overall, was rubbish! Their papadoms taste like bombay mix--apparently uses 3 different flours and lentils (the sauces that went with them were even more disgusting). One of their free delacacies I tried was a small piece of bread with Tamarind and Black Grape; this and the papadom sauces looked very interesting, but looks can be deceiving, just like the interior (and exterior--with the Tiger). It may look like a good restaurant, but never judge a book by it's cover; it all comes down to the chef in the kitchen. Everything is built around the chef, not the restaurant. The dishes looked fancy but were nothing special in terms of taste. The Dhansak tasted like a simple Madras; nothing complex about their sauce. I can imagine Greg going there with his upper class mates and being fooled into thinking they're inside a good quality restaurant, but you're better off down the road in Elachi.

Up next: Dhansak @ Dewaniam.
Falkor
Posts: 1371
Joined: 10 Feb 2006 17:45
Location: Surrey Quays

Post by Falkor »

Dewaniam's Dhansak was perfect! Very thick sauce and complex recipe... It's one of the few times I've experienced the "death touch" where the spicy taste is delayed for a couple of seconds with each mouthful; kinda hard to explain, but it only happens very rarely when a curry is exceptional.

Dewaniam and Elachi are through to the final! I just need to think up another complex dish to try; anyone have any ideas?
Julsb
Posts: 98
Joined: 6 Mar 2005 18:16
Location: Sydenham

Post by Julsb »

Falkor, I think your "death touch" is the result of the chilli getting incorporated into the oils in the dish, which means that the heat builds up slowly as you eat. Fresh chillies tend to give a quick hit as soon as they hit your tongue (and if the seeds have been left in they get hotter as you chew), and dried chilli powder gives a simple, one-note heat level that stays consistant throughout.

I haven't yet found a stand-out takeaway of any stripe round these parts, so if anyone finds one I'm all ears. My current fav North Indian/Pakistani is Tayyab's up in Whitechapel. If I could only find someone down here who makes anything as good as their Dry Meat (boring name, great dish) and incredible naan, I'd be a very happy girl.
fishcox
Posts: 628
Joined: 4 Mar 2005 13:55
Location: lawrie park road

Post by fishcox »

There are some 'alright' places around Sydenham, but the best place I have found, by far, is the Surma in East Dulwich. It is head and shoulders above anything else I have tried anywhere in south London.

Im a Dhansak addict too, which is superb in the Surma, but they also make the most fantastic Saag Bhaji.

Its only 10am on a Monday morning, but I've already made myself hungry thinking about it.
Jenny
Posts: 4
Joined: 18 Oct 2006 10:45
Location: Lawrie Park Road

Post by Jenny »

Gurkha's all the way, seriously. I've been to loads of places in the area (agree Surma in ED is nice, as is the Sunday buffet at the Pistachio Club - Tandoori Nights overrrated though imho) and I still keep going back to Gurkha's. Good quality ingredients, great Nepalese dishes, lovely service, and free sherry and popadoms! Guess that's why you have to book Fri/Sat and often Thurs too
MiniFox
Posts: 191
Joined: 8 Oct 2007 20:32
Location: Lawrie Park Road

Post by MiniFox »

Totally and wholeheartedly second Jenny's comments re Gurkhas
I've been going there for the last five years and never had a bad meal there
The service is very friendly and the Nepalese food just lovely
pip
Posts: 462
Joined: 17 Jan 2006 16:35
Location: adamsrill

Post by pip »

Friends of mine ( both curry nuts ) paid a visit to the newly refurbished Garamassala on Sydenham road on monday night and were very impressed with the food Quality which they both said was superb.
As a guide to the prices, the Chicken Madras is £ 4.40 and its worth remembering that for the next three weeks they are offering 25% off take aways and eating in. I hope this helps.
Rebelmc
Posts: 172
Joined: 8 Feb 2006 14:38
Location: Sydenham

Post by Rebelmc »

Surprised no-one has mentioned Red Rose opposite Gipsy Hill station; it used to get regular mentions in Time Out's guide to good eating, and is one of the best Indians I've ever been to.
Falkor
Posts: 1371
Joined: 10 Feb 2006 17:45
Location: Surrey Quays

Post by Falkor »

I tried out Garam Masala, which was average.
Falkor
Posts: 1371
Joined: 10 Feb 2006 17:45
Location: Surrey Quays

Post by Falkor »

I tried Surma in East Dulwich, but the food was crap and the chicken contained gristle and a small bone! There's untold Indian restaurants in East Dulwich, including a Chinese one that does Crispy Pork.

I think I will try that Gipsy Hill one next... hope it's good!
poppy
Posts: 574
Joined: 1 Sep 2007 20:03
Location: Sydenham

Poppy

Post by poppy »

Pip, where is Garamassala? Is it just the usual curries, ie. Chicken Tika etc?
Falkor
Posts: 1371
Joined: 10 Feb 2006 17:45
Location: Surrey Quays

Post by Falkor »

Garammassala is just an average indian restaurant in Sydenham High Street; better off going Forest Hill until I find a better place.
Post Reply