Cyrus Todiwala’s inventive Anglo-Indian has long found favour with readers, who appreciate its ‘consistently excellent’ food, service ‘par excellence’ & ‘quirky’ setting in a Victorian block whose redbrick elevations are equal parts Mumbai & English provincial. The cooking draws from Todiwala’s Parsee heritage & makes use of seasonal British ingredients to distinctive effect. Start with beetroot & coconut samosas or the fiery squid ‘dynamite’ marinated in Goan piri-piri masala before tandoori bream kesari in a yoghurt-based sauce with saffron, cardamom, mandarin & lime zest, or opt instead for the Keralan duck tikka à la Mrs Matthew, cooked in Syrian-Christian style. Meat-free options & some unusual seasonal sides flesh out the menu, while the short, eclectic wine list rounds up a few sub-£20 bottles. Don’t miss the Ginger Garden at the back, an alfresco haven in fine weather.
Since arriving in London in 1991, Cyrus Todiwala has become something of an ambassador for Indian food & culture in the UK. Over the years, his flagship Cafe Spice Namaste has earned a reputation for innovative regional cooking: Cyrus's Parsee roots show through strongly, although he is also renowned as a champion of native British ingredients. He is much in demand as a celebrity & consultant, as well as making his mark in all manner of social & community initiatives. In recognition of his sterling work & his contribution to the hospitality industry, he was awarded an MBE in 2000. His first book Cafe Spice Namaste quickly became a classic when it was published in 1998.Travel to Café Spice Namasté in style with London's leading minicab firm Addison Lee.
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