The Painted Heron

Who would have thought, 10 years ago, that London would become home to a slew of upmarket Indian eateries? Chelsea’s Painted Heron was one of the pioneers of the genre, its menu a fusion of classic subcontinental & Western flavours, & its dining room a sleek & contemporary space. In the wrong hands, this kind of food can be clumsy, but the dishes here are graceful & delicate. Starters include rich rabbit-leg tikka, with similarly successful mains including dishes such as guinea fowl with limes, tender swordfish wrapped in banana leaf, & hot & sour Goan scallop & prawn curry. Despite gripes over the slightly dismissive service, most consider it ‘well worth the money’ & praise extends to the wine list, which has been carefully selected to suit the spicy cuisine.