Zanzibar

Colourfully attired Bollywood film stars cavort on flat-screen TVs in Zan Zi Bar’s boisterous dining room, which gets packed to the gunnels – especially at weekends. The attraction is superb Punjabi & north Indian cuisine, & crowds of Asians come here to gorge themselves on succulent lamb chops, flavour-packed curries redolent of the subcontinent’s formidable street food (try the asli chicken, methi keema or Goan fish), & an array of excellent breads (peshwari naan, roti, kulchi, parathas et al); veggie dishes such as sarson da saag (creamy mustard greens) are also on the money. Soak up the lively bangra beats, & chill out with a cup of masala chai in the small alfresco area out front – although the restaurant’s position on Edgware High Street doesn’t exactly encourage lingering.