A passion project from a father and son duo, Ram and Prajowl Adhikari, 1580 is a restaurant specialising in the flavours of Nepalese and North Indian cuisine, all served up with a touch of Nepali hospitality. As for the name of the restaurant, this comes from the year that Sir Francis Drake set out circumnavigating the globe in pursuit of treasure. Sacks full of exotic spices were amongst the gifts that Drake returned to Queen Elizabeth I, marking the very start of a British love affair with aromatics.
As you peruse the 1580 menu, and decide on a delicious drink from the cocktail list, order a few snacks from the 'Munchies' section. You've got the choice of paneer bites, mixed veg pakoda and masala chips, along with amritsari fish bites, and fries in Himalayan peppercorn and green chilli. The tapas selection is great for those who want to get a good taste of the menu and share a few bits. There's chicken mo mo, which consists of steamed dumplings and a special sauce, the dahi aloo tikki pan-fried potato hash with a bed of chickpeas, and a vegan squid (oyster mushrooms) dish with Indian masala, vegan mayo and lemon wedges.
From the tandoor, try the seekh kebab minced lamb with a blend of spices, kesar paneer tikka with saffron and creamy yoghurt, or murgh tikka chicken breast with yoghurt, ginger, garlic, saffron and Kashmiri chilli. If you're ordering for two, try the veggie platter or mixed grill, which contains a mix of all the best bits. Onto the star of the show – 1580’s curries. You'll find classics like a makhani with on-the-bone tandoori chicken, a creamy tikka masala, and lamb rogan josh. Alternatively, opt for the chef's specials, which include the likes of mutton pakku with clay oven-roasted lamb chops infused with Himalayan spices.