Rasa

The birthplace of Keralan chef Das Sreedharan’s spice-infused restaurant empire, this bright-pink, rather womb-like venue has been keeping vegetarians happy & others pleasantly surprised for nearly 20 years. It specialises in the meatless cooking of the Nair community, & you’ll find an array of dishes far removed from the usual curry-house repertoire. Munch on tiffin treats such as pappadavadai (pimped-up poppadoms with extra crunch) before moving on to vibrant dishes such as beet cheera pachadi (beetroot & spinach in a yoghurt sauce with coconut, mustard seeds & curry leaves), not forgetting the punchy homemade pickles & chutneys, crispy dosas & rice in a range of flavours. There’s chilled Cobra on tap, & a choice of lassis & freshly squeezed juices. Across the road, Rasa Travancore has the same homespun charm, with the addition of meat & fish to the menu.