Restaurants

You'll always find Sri Lankan expats dining en famille at this large Lewisham eaterie. Decked out with hanging flowers, golden statues and flashing deities, the space looks grand. The menu is massive but few are here for the standard South Indian korma, biriani or madras curries. Perhaps first nibbling on a pattie, roti or vadai (have a look what's on display in the cabinet), they're here for the dosais, string hoppers and kothus, chunky, cheap and wonderfully flavoursome, or for something spicy, extra spicy in fact, devilled mutton or prawn. There are cool glasses of mango lassi available to soothe the tongue. Weekends witness the all-you-can-eat challenge of a £5 buffet – but you'll be hard pushed to spend anything near a tenner whatever day it is.

Time Out Cheap Eats in London Guide 2007