Five Hot Chillies

A no-fuss Punjabi corner café, Five Hot Chillies puts all its efforts into the food. Even during a sparsely attended Sunday lunch, the fish tikka arrived from the open stainless-steel kitchen freshly seared, and the mixed bhajias (big chillies, onions, potato patties) had seemingly leapt straight from the pan, so crisp and light was the batter. Less satisfying was some overcooked rounds of patra. There's a huge choice of mains (arranged in non-veg and veg sections, and here called 'steamers') with the array of vegetarian dishes especially notable. Karahi methi chana featured soft chickpeas and abundant fenugreek leaves in a copious gravy. Karahi corn on the cob came in half-inch slices bathed in a tomato-based sauce. Good too was the karahi tinda gosht the flavour of the lamb marrying well with the juicy marrow-like tinda. There's also plenty of unusual breads and rice to try. We relished the pungent garlic nan and onion kulcha. A request for mild dishes brought forth curries that might have been called medium elsewhere, but despite its name, not everything at Five Hot Chillies is a scorcher. Staff were friendly and prompt.