Silka

This basement restaurant near Borough Market doesn’t quite get the attention it deserves, perhaps because its rather forgettable narrow glass frontage reveals none of the smart Indian cooking that awaits underground. Descend the stairs, take a seat & peruse an extensive menu that touts both curry-house classics & lesser-seen regional specialities – a coconut-rich chicken & noodle soup with fragrant curry leaves might not be your typical Indian opener, but it’s authentically spiced all the same. Tandoori grills & kebabs dominate, but the subcontinent’s fine vegetarian tradition isn’t neglected – how about paneer in a tomato, fenugreek & butter sauce or silky roasted aubergine with cashew nuts, sultanas & spices. To drink, cooling mango lassi or Bangla beer are excellent thirst-quenchers.