Restaurants

Despite the competition on this stretch of Stroud Green Road – Turkish cafés, pizzerias, takeaways – we still prefer this meat-free South Indian cheapie. Pricing counts, with most dishes being under £3, but choice matters too. Curries include red cabbage and apple, marrow, okra, radish and broccoli, the ‘exotic' range featuring sabji bahar (potato, fresh spinach and mustard seeds) and jeeri aloo (potato, cumin seed, fresh tomatoes, coriander). Dosas and chutneys comprise the starters, kulfis (almond, mango, pistachio) and ice-creams (papaya, passion fruit) the attractive desserts. Presentation may be basic – orders are scribbled on a scrap of notepaper and taken to the desk – but the swift end result cannot be faulted. And this all takes place in pool-hall hush, amid necklaced images of Krishna.

Time Out Cheap Eats in London Guide 2007