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Chowki
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2 for 1 on main courses
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Devised by chef-proprietor Kuldeep Singh – of Mela fame – Chowki’s format is alluring: a monthly changing menu of authentic regional cooking at fair prices. On a recent visit, we found the delivery a marked improvement on last year. With its soundtrack of chilled beats, its communal seating (at long wooden tables) and its low-lit interior (in two large rooms), Chowki is ideal for a low-cost dinner with chums. In the afternoon it’s somewhat gloomy, though the lunch menu of meal-in-one dishes is a bargain. Food from Lucknow, Goa and the North-West Frontier featured in April, with each region providing three starters and mains plus a dessert (the Goan multi-layered cake, bebinca, say). Tender coils of just-cooked squid came coated with a zesty tomato and carom-seed masala and superfluous coriander relish in an otherwise well-judged Goan starter. Next, the North-West Frontier provided our lamb kofta: flavour-packed meatballs peeping from a pond of tangy yoghurt curry. As with other mains, this came with chickpea curry, nan and rice: high marks to all three. Within a chapati-fling of Piccadilly Circus, Chowki is worth knowing about.
Time Out Eating & Drinking Guide 2009
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Time Out reviews restaurants anonymously and pays for meals. Of course, we cannot guarantee the accuracy or independence of user reviews.
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Details
- 2-3 Denman Street, Soho, W1D 7HA
- Area: Soho
- Tel: 020 7439 1330
- www.chowki.com
- Book online
- Category: Pan-Indian
- Travel: Piccadilly Circus tube
- Times: Meals served noon-11.30pm Mon-Sat; noon-10.30pm Sun
- Price: Main courses £7.95-£11.95. Set meal (vegetarian) £15.95, 3 courses; (non-vegetarian) £18.95, 3 courses
- Credit cards: AmEx, DC, MC, V
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I recently visited Chowki and have to say that the place was buzzing. I really loved it the idea of pots is quite good and the portions are just right. What I really liked was that the food was authentic and not overspiced with fresh hot nan bread. The service was also good and the manager was very helpful on Menu suggestions.
Food is okay and atmosphere is great....the really downside to this place is its seating, paying to sit on a stool for what is a an Indian Wagamama isn't my idea of fun and its too hurried and seating space abysmal.
I used to be a regular diner at chowki. Visited recently. Found the whole original menu upside down. More expensive - less quality/quantity. Monthly changing menu concept gone into tandoor. Rubbish.
Gutted - used to be a regular to Chowki, although haven't been for a few months now. Went this weekend and found they've changed the menu format with less focus on the regional feast and new Chowki pots. The result - food is nowhere near as good. When you go for the regional feast you now get a bog standard dhal and naan bread rather than something appropriate to the region and no veg dish. Prices are also up on the regional feast. C'mon Chowki get it sorted. I won't be back until you do anyway.
Six friends and I ate here one recent Friday. The first thing to say is: IT IS NOT CHEAP. Most of the main courses start at £12 not £6.95 to £11.95 as indicated on the Time Out review. We went for the set menu and most of us we unhappy with the quality of food. “Bland” and “stingy” were mentioned many times. The food came in plastic bowls fit for a three-year-old and the service was appalling. And the with loud Euro-pop serving as atmosphere it was impossible to hear any conversation. Never to be repeated.