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Diwana Bhel Poori House

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121-123 Drummond Street, NW1 2HL Full details & map

Restaurants & cafés: South Indian vegetarian

 

Time Out says   6 Users say 4/5 Rate it

Posted: Jan 29 2010

Diwana has been a Drummond Street fixture for time out of mind, drawing families from across the capital with its upbeat atmosphere and menu of south Indian vegetarian street food. The bright interior is functional at best - its wooden panelling, pine tables and dog-eared, laminated menus more reminiscent of a mountain-top canteen than a reputable urban restaurant - but that only further emphasises the quality of the cooking. Bhel poori is the big draw, small plates of savoury snacks (including puffed pooris, samosas, dhals and chutneys), suitable as starters or, ordered in large enough quantities, a meal in themselves. Those seeking more substantial feeding can opt for a crispy filled dosa or a vegetarian thali mixing rice with a variety of vegetable curries; there's also a hearty lunch buffet for those less easily satisfied. Staff aren't exactly renowned for dispensing pleasantries, but service is efficient.

Diwana Bhel Poori House details

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Address

Diwana Bhel Poori House

121-123 Drummond Street NW1 2HL

Transport Euston Square or Warren Street tube/Euston tube/rail

Telephone

020 7387 5556

Meals served noon-11pm daily.

Set buffet lunch (noon-2.30pm) £6.95 (under-4s free; 4-7s half-price). Set thali £7.95-£8.95. Unlicensed. Corkage (before 10.30pm) no charge.

Credit cards MC, V

Diwana Bhel Poori House map

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Comments & ratings 4/5 (Average of 6 ratings)

By Jo - Oct 25 2011
5/5

Loved this place so much I ended up eating there twice in two days! Great food, really friendly service & amazing value. I'd never eaten Bhel Poori before so was great to be able to try that and BYOB is always preferable to tasteless largers or cheap wine plus I always prefer an established place with character over a formulaic chain....

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By Coco - Oct 3 2011

I went there earlier and this year and found it amazing. However, although both me and my boyfriend enjoyed the meal yesterday we both found ourselves incredibly thirsty. I feel as thought I have a sahara for a throat. As a vegetarian restaurant pridinh itself on healthy cuisine on its website, I'm surprised that they've either over salted the food (yet I could not taste any salt) or used MSG.

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By caff - Sep 8 2011
5/5

Can't complain about anything. The food is fantastic every time. Staff always very pleasant and helpful. Prices bargainous. Wish i could stay and graze all night.

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By hasnae bakkali - Aug 24 2011

Being indians ourselves we were excited to find this new place to eat out on a Sunday eve. But soon felt extremely disappointing. Very very average food, very very oily and very highly priced. Would never go there again.

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By hasnae bakkali - Aug 24 2011

Being indians ourselves we were excited to find this new place to eat out on a Sunday eve. But soon felt extremely disappointing. Very very average food, very very oily and very highly priced. Would never go there again.

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By BTW - Jul 10 2011
1/5

Being indians ourselves we were excited to find this new place to eat out on a Sunday eve. But soon felt extremely disappointing. Very very average food, very very oily and very highly priced. Would never go there again.

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By Vicki - Jun 13 2011
5/5

We ate here last week and were really impressed by the range, quality and price of the food. The atmosphere was very nice and there was no superficial facade to the place. Our friend has been eating there since the 70s and we went on his recommendation. As a result we hope to eat there as long too!

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By sally - Jan 26 2011

I was stunned to see anyone complain about this restaurant, I have been going for over 20 years, the food has always been wonderful, I have never been ill, the staff have always been polite and helpful.

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By Momo - Jan 3 2011

The food is absolutely great, and so are the prices. Best to go for the lunch time buffet. I have been going there regularly for years twice a month and never had any stomach upsets so far.

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By Bob - Dec 29 2010

Almost didn't go to this restaurant due to the bad reviews we read here. Ended up there anyway as it was the closest of the south Indian restaurants we'd found. Had a great meal, buffet was fantastic and 1/2 price for the kids. They also didn't charge for our 4 year old. The place was clean, toilets a bit dingy and small, but you don't go to a place for its toilets. Wish we had two stomachs so we could have tried everything and ordered some dosas.

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By neeru - Dec 15 2010

I recently went to this restaurant and had the misfortune of leaving some quite valuable property there. i called up and explained the situation. The response I receieved over the phone was sullen, rude and unhelpful at best, i did not feel reassured so asked them poitely if they minded checking the area just incase, as the property was very important to me. Ok maybe a slighlty fussy request but i did not exptet the response: The gentleman refused and said he thought i was "being stupid"!! ....though somewhat amusing i didnt think it was really acceptable to be calling customers stupid, so i asked to speak to the manager, to which he replied that he was the manager......
I wont be going back.

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