Chook Chook Indian Railway Kitchen

While Putney is home to plenty of flat white-slinging cafes and neighbourhood brunch spots, you could probably count its list of ‘great places to go for dinner’ on one hand. Chook Chook, a modern curry house styled on an Indian train carriage, would undoubtedly be in that line-up, the idea being that you ‘travel’ from North to South via a menu of regional Indian dishes.

Atmospheric interiors bring that point to life. The dining room has been designed to resemble a vintage train carriage with dark wood walls, emerald leather booths, faux antique lampshades and brushed brass fittings. The effect is actually quite beautiful, and incredibly atmospheric, enough to give the Dishooms of the world a run for their money. Details are taken seriously here. Copper tableware and tin plates pay homage to the sort you'd find on Indian trains, while dishes are finished with micro greenery and edible flowers. If you’re wondering whether the above makes it a culprit for serving up style over substance, we can assure you, it does not.

We begin at ‘Chaat Junction’ with a classic northern Indian snack of Dahi Sevpuri - puffed puri shells filled with a flavour bomb combo of spicy potatoes, cooling yoghurt and tangy tamarind chutney. Many of its curries lean towards the north’s richer, heavily spiced dishes, including a delicious ‘Railway Chicken’ curry studded with firm new potatoes, and an unctuous lamb number (the restaurant’s signature) served in a fragrant Kerahi masala sauce. We soak these up with ghee-washed slices of coconut-filled Peshwari naan. If you can save room for one of its chocolate samosas, which are exactly what one would expect from crisp pastry filled with liquid chocolate, please do.

Prices are refreshingly reasonable, with chaats about £6 each, curries around £12, and desserts just a fiver. All this adds up to a dining experience that pretty much ticks every box. No wonder it was jammed with locals on a casual Tuesday night.

Putney's Chook Chook Indian Railway Kitchen is a restaurant all about showcasing different dishes from India's many regions in a sophisticated way. Based just a short walk away from the south bank of the river Thames, its prime location on Lower Richmond Road means that its easily accesible from both Putney and Barnes stations. So if you're wanting a hearty Indian meal but with an added level of elegance, Chook Chook could be just the spot you're looking for.

The restaurant's dark green facade features floor to ceiling windows which can be opened out fully, allowing plenty of light to flood inside. Meanwhile the low-lit interiors almost give Chook Chook the feeling of a basement bar. Self contained booths are upholstered in green leather on one side of the room, while dark wooden walls are decorated with a variety of artworks.

Food-wise, the menu covers a huge amount of ground meaning that you're never going to be short of choice at Chook Chook Indian Railway Kitchen. A designated chaat section of the menu includes everything from a mango chana chaat to a palak and crispy kale chaat. Other starters range from tandoori stuffed mushrooms to meatier offerings such as marinated quail, and Awadhi lamb chops.

The largest chunk of the menu is however, of course, dedicated to curries. Vegetable-based options include paneer butter masala and Bombay aloo, while a railway chicken curry and Karahi prawn masala lead the meat and fish options. A number of sides are also available including naans to mop up any leftover curry. On top of this, there is also a separate menu entirely dedicated to vegans.

The bar menu features a short but sweet list of wines by the bottle, with a few also available by the glass. There are also a variety of beers, cocktails, spirits and non-alcoholic drinks, including lassis, on offer.