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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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?
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.
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.
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
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
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.
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.
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!
