If your idea of Indian food begins and ends with the usual curry house staples, Infuse Modern Indian Bistro in St Albans is worth adding to your list. Opened in 2019 by Delhi natives Sameer and Head Chef Ganga, the restaurant takes diners on a journey through India's regional cuisines, combining traditional recipes with contemporary presentation and a few unexpected twists along the way.
The philosophy is simple: showcase the breadth of Indian cooking beyond the dishes many British diners already know. Rather than focusing on one region, the menu draws inspiration from across the country, highlighting the distinctive flavours, ingredients and cooking styles that make Indian cuisine one of the world's most diverse.
A good place to start is the restaurant's most photographed dish, Choori Chaat. This colourful take on Indian street food layers papdi, spiced potato, chutneys, yoghurt and pomegranate pearls over a crisp rice poppadum base. Other highlights include Chicken Momo Tandoori, inspired by Delhi's enduring love affair with momos, and tandoori seabass served with chaat masala fries.
For mains, the kitchen continues its tour of India with dishes such as Kerala-inspired prawn curry, Lamb Kadhai with peppers and red chilli, and a slow-braised lamb shank cooked in a rich masala gravy. The signature dum biryani remains one of the restaurant's standout dishes, sealed beneath dough during cooking to lock in flavour before being opened tableside. Vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free diners are also particularly well catered for, with dishes such as spinach and kale saag and yellow dal tadka sitting alongside the meat and seafood options.
The drinks menu follows the same playful approach with some punchy, flavourful signatures. Cocktails include a mango chilli caipiroska made with Alphonso mango vodka and a Goan Tamarind Mojito that balances rum, tamarind, mint and lime. Who could resist trying those?