A spot with a wow factor! @myshish.london is a new FULLY HALAL spot located in North East London with a Turkish inspired menu with a great atmosphere.
This place is great for the gram, ideal for nights out, there’s food cooked with fire shows, food cut at the table, flower walls 😉, cool vibes, modern clean decor and a car park on-site which is very convenient (can get filled up, I went on a Tues at 7.30 pm)
I’m not really one that goes to restaurants for the vibes, but I enjoyed the atmosphere created here.
What I tried 👇
Drinks 🍹 Pina colada £8 Caribbean fresh £9 Le petit tequila £5
All the drinks we had were excellent. Had the pina colada, Caribbean fresh (no dry ice was available) and had a le petit tequila which I really liked as it was something new and different. It was basically a non-alcoholic beer, what I liked is the flavours developed on the tongue I tasted different things with each slip, the only thing is the smell, really smells like real beer.
Appetizers🦐
Shredded Beef tacos £11.49
Shredded Beef (tacos) was good, just the taco itself was stale and soft and I think too expensive for a simple starter. 6/10
Dynamite prawns £11.49
Dynamite Shrimp were very poor, no batter, sauce lacked flavour, even the colours looked wrong. 2/10
My Shish BBQ ribs £18.89
A massive portion that could easily be the main course. Tender and soft, but sauce was a bit too sweet. If you get the beef ribs, it’s enough for 2 people to share as you get 2 beef short ribs. These were good. 7/10
Sweet potato fries £5.49
Mains 🍴
Cheesey Meat Ball £22.95
A very big portion. One half however was undercooked which for mincemeat an issue and unsafe to consume. The bits that I did manage to eat did taste nice. 5/10
Special Filet Mignon 250g with Fire show £42
The headline dish was the £42 fillet mignon that’s served with the fire show featured in the video. You are paying for the show here which I enjoyed, but the steak was not great, I requested medium rare but most slices were overcooked rendering it tough and chewy. 3/10
I recommend this place more for “vibes” rather than the food, as it has areas of improvement. I was invited, but I have to give you my honest opinion. Every dish (apart from BBQ ribs) had issues. If I was a paying customer, I would have sent back a lot of food to the Kitchen.
The prices are also expensive for the location, more like Central London prices and from looking around the restaurant, the most popular item ordered was a burger and chips, maybe due to the moderate price of around £15
Service: I was invited, staff were told to give me extra attention. Although some looked inexperienced, the staff were friendly and attentive, with no major issues. The Starters need to be cleared from the table before mains are served. The table was never cleaned from food and crumbs that fell on the table at any time. However, staff did come over and check many times throughout the evening.
Here’s a new very fancy Indian restaurant just off Regents Street @kanishka is a modern fine dining restaurant with a traditional Indian menu with some modern twists
I ordered from the A la carte menu
For starters,
Chicken Tikka pie
I went for a Chicken Tikka pie £19 served with a cumin-scented berry compote. A very uniquely presented dish, with a dome puff pastry middle that housed a chicken tikka filling.
My favourite dish of the night was the Gangtok momos £18. Steamed dumplings filled with quality minced lamb.
I chucked a whole Momo straight in my mouth, which burst the dumpling and released an explosion of flavour like a delicious flavour bomb. Sure, this most likely isn’t the best way to eat at a fine dining restaurant, but I can assure you, it tasted much better to throw one whole in your face rather than eat with some decorum with a knife and fork.
I also got the Tandoori mix grill £24. Which consists of high-quality lake district lamb chop, jumbo King prawn, fresh cornish seabass and corn fed chicken tikka.
The presentation of this dish could definitely be better, the French trimmed lamb chop was cooked well, had decent flavours, but just lacked that real strong deep lamb flavour you get with a nice bit of fat left on. The chicken was just okay, the flavour was mellow and the texture could have been softer for me as it was a bit dry, slightly overcooked thus not juicy. The seabass was actually the best item on the plate.
Mains
I was drawn to a £33 biryani with lamb served with a pastry top cut at the table. The aroma of the fragrant rice was steaming out of the biryani. Everything was cooked perfectly and the pineapple Rita was actually delicious, but at £33 I was expecting a mind-blowing biryani but this was just good and doesn’t reflect the price
Also got the Lake District lamb rump with some kathalu pitika, keema potol, spiced kosha gravy. A very disappointing dish. Whilst the lamb was tasty if was spoilt by an overpowering salty curry sauce that was poured at the table all over my steak. The waiter did notice my dissatisfied face and did try and remove the plate and send it back to the kitchen, but as I was reviewing here as an invited guest I left it (if I was paying I would sent it back) the accompanying sides on the plate also added nothing and didn’t work.
For dessert, I went for the instagramable Chocolate Sphere £13 with Cherry mousse and salted caramel sauce. Now if I actually read the menu and not get something for the likes I’d noticed in the sphere was filled with a bit of cherry mousse..I don’t like cherries.
My smarter friend opted for reading the menu got the Peanut Butter Parfait £13 with Banana cake, caramelized banana and 24-carat gold leaf. This was really good and I got a serious case of food envy; a well-balanced dessert with loads of elements working really well together.
The service was what I normally expect from a restaurant that’s aiming for a Michelin star, waiters were extremely attentive and moved with a stealth-like ability to top up my water without me noticing. The upstairs dining room has an art deco style with jazz playing creating a fine dining environment.
This place would be good for a special occasion or date night. However, if recommended saving some money and trying some of the set menus available for £45 Sunday to Thursday or lunchtime 3 courses for £35 or even a really good 5 plates for £30. Check their website for more info.
Chicken and lamb are halal. The wagyu beef is unfortunately not halal. I was invited here this meal was complimentary.
I’ve been reviewing and writing about restaurants since 2010 and in that time have been fortunate enough to dine at 100s of restaurants. I write many reviews on my Instagram page and during that time, never have I ever received so many mixed comments and messages about one restaurant than Coco. I got loads of messages about food being poor, bad service – but also got positive messages about an amazing dining experience.
I’m not here to debate anyone else’s experience, I can only talk about mine so here it is!
Before I start this review let me highlight a few things.
1. I visited during the restaurant’s soft launch, so it wasn’t officially opened.
2. I discovered this restaurant via social media and noticed the location, high-end restaurant interiors and the dry (no alcohol) drinks menu
3. I reached out to the restaurant and wanted to know if they wanted me to review them in exchange for a complimentary press review meal, they said yes – so my meal was complimentary
4. During the soft launch, there was no DJ, loud music or entertainment. My experience was a quiet, chilled fine dining experience
The food is Turkish inspired and the restaurant can serve up to 200 people. There’s also a beautiful outdoor terrace that’s next to the river. As restaurants go, this one was one of the most striking in terms of the ambient and decor, clearly, a lot of money and time has been spent on building this restaurant
Drinks Menu
Food Menu
Food
Food-wise I had some really good food, some food wasn’t at the same level, but did enjoy something new in terms of non-alcoholic (Halal) wine
Starters
Glazed Cauliflower £8
Crispy Cauliflower, CocoBBQ Sauce Spring Onions, Coriander, Sesame Seeds, TahiniBread
Started with some crispy cauliflower, presentation was great, served on a bed of dry ice which added some nice theatre, I loved the cauliflower dish, cauliflower had a lovely texture and the BBQ sauce was balanced well.
The Boneless chicken wings were also great, very tender and soft achieved by the slow-cooked Confit process, flavours were good too.
Mains
Ribeye Steak £32
250g Argentinian Black Label Rib-Eye Steak, Mixed Leaves, Sumac Dressing, TruffleMayo, Maldon Salt
The highlight of the evening was the buttery, melted in my mouth 28 day aged Argentinian rib-eye steak. At £35 it’s pricey but it was delicious and was a joy to eat, cooked perfectly as requested to a medium-rare.
Mixed Coco Shish £35
Also tried the Mixed Coco Shish, the lamb pieces were large and cooked perfectly, but I felt the chicken was overcooked which made it dry. The Adana kebab was cooked well but lacked in the flavour department.
At the £35 price point, I would have expected more items, I also would expect better quality lamb and chicken, at least corn fed chicken or a better cut of lamb for the Adana. An example of better quality meats would be the menu at The Mantl in Knightsbridge.
Black miso cod £38
Marinated in Kefir Lime and Miso with Lemon Chili Mayo and a Burnt Lime Wedge
A dish that’s been clearly inspired by the Black Cod from Nubu, whilst cooked perfect, I wasn’t too keen with the flavours – not a dish I liked – it didn’t go to waste, I ate every bite but had to force it down.
The desserts were not great, unimaginative and lacked depth in any department, the mug cake was just that: a cake in a mug, that anyone can make at home with a microwave, this was baked but I found parts dry and absent of much taste,
The vegan mouse was light and refreshing, but again lacked body and depth and was too simple for a dessert costing £10
Pricing
I think it’s important to note that in the UK, restaurants make a large percentage of revenue via the sale of alcohol, most restaurants sell glasses of wine that cost pennies for pounds, this is how they can help food costs be affordable.
In Central London, the rent prices are high so if a restaurant wants to forgo the selling of alcohol it needs to charge a premium for the food or non-alcoholic drinks to make up the difference in potential lost revenue. Having no alcohol in places like East London is not normally too much of an issue as restaurants are normally in areas where the population don’t drink and rents are lower.
Hence why coco and the only other halal restaurant in Zone 1 that serve no alcohol have a slighter higher price than most.
So, let’s talk about the pricing, some foods are prices okay for what you get, like the steak which is a premium aged steak from Argentina but some are not, like the mixed grill. I’m happy to pay extra of a restaurant sources ingredients of a higher standard, however, I don’t see it here, the chicken is not free-range or corn fed for example.
At the time I visited there was no minimum spend, however, the restaurant has now enforced a minimum spend of £25 Mon to Thursday and £50 at other times. I don’t like this and think it’s in poor taste. In particular, if you just wanted a drink and a few nibbles by the river, it would completely suck if you were vegetarian due to the lack of menu options.
Service
As mentioned I visited during a soft launch so there were only a few tables of customers, so the service we received was quick and we had a friendly waitress and other service staff. It still has far to go from being classed as fine dining, but I had no complaints. However, as mentioned I was invited, it was quiet and the owner was here as well.
Drinks
An area in which this place is different is the massive drinks menu. They have a very large drinks menu, not your usual sweet Mocktails but halal wine! I had a £25 bottle of Pierre Zero Prestige – Chardonnay which lasted the whole night, it was a good experience. You can actually taste different flavours on your tongue in stages and flavours develop over time; Peach, white flower and apricot, vanilla, and honey undertones
Atmosphere
This place is great for a night out or special occasion. The views of Tower Bridge are amazing as to, the standard of interior design and decor, it makes for lovely pictures for Instagram – as does the theatrical aspects like the dry ice in some dishes for presentation. The vibe is second to none and some of the food mentioned above was good. I recommend the steak for sure!
So, would I come back here again? Well if you factor in the price, the answer is only for a special occasion, apart from the steak, there isn’t anything here I’d rush back for food-wise, maybe the cauliflower dish, but that’s because I really like cauliflower. If it wasn’t for the steak I had, I would have scored the food 5.5/10 but that steak bumps it up a point.
This new style of menu, where the focus is around grilled meats is now becoming very common from new restaurants that are trying a similar – i.e creating a “vibe”, flower walls, DJ’s, live performances. I have seen this formula being repeated a lot.
I also do not like the minimum spend, it actually cheapens a place and is not a classy move, if that was not a thing then I would be more inclined to visit. I put food first and truly speaking I can get the same level or better food elsewhere. However, what you won’t get is the dining experience, beautiful decor and amazing location of Tower Bridge – so it depends on what you prioritise.
All food is halal. I was invited here, my meal was complimentary.
Looking for Michelin quality and standard of Indian food without going into Central London? Then here’s one for you @grandtrunkroad 📍 located in South Woodford, East London is an Indian restaurant that aims to deliver a Michelin star service and a menu similar to those found in Central London
It’s been awarded a Michelin plate (the award under 1 star) 3 years running and it’s easy to see why. Having been to all of the Indian Michelin star restaurants this place is pretty much on the same level.
I was invited to check out the menu and tried some sample dishes (note some dishes are smaller portions for review purposes, not regular sizes)
Starters
The first thing that caught my eye was the lamb chops, 3 pieces came with a very heavy price tag at £26! As I was reviewing the owner suggested that I get a custom platter of starters to sample everything.
Dilli Ki Chaat £7.50 Wheat crisps, spicy chickpea, sweet yoghurt, fresh mint & tamarind chutney
Sabudana Aur kale Tikki £7.50, Sago coated potato cakes, kale, fresh ginger, coriander & chillies, tamarind chutney – a simple dish, but cooked perfectly and tasted great 8/10
Lucknow Malai Tikka £16.95, Chicken supreme, marinated with saffron, cream cheese cardamom & crushed black peppercorn – chicken cooked to perfection with a strong note of saffron flavour – 7.5/10
Orkney Scallops £13.95, Pan seared with spicy tomato, roasted garlic & pepper chutney & lotus root crisp. Once again, another dish that was perfectly cooked ( you can see a theme here) quality scallops balanced and working in harmony with all the other ingredients on the plate.
Peshawari Lamb Chops £26.95 (for 3), I received 2 – love my chops and these bad boys looked amazing, reared on a farm in wales, these french trim chops were the best in halal lamb for quality. They were marinated in fennel, star anise, raw papaya & crushed spices.
Mains
Royal Lamb Shank £18.95
An 18th century revived recipe Slow-cooked lamb shank in a mild aromatic sauce from the royal kitchen of Lucknow. The dish was cooked to perfection and the meat was soft and tender which meant it fell off the bone with ease, however, although the gravy looked riched, overall the flavour lacked much depth in terms of spice flavour and heat.
Awadhi Dum Gosht Biryani £19.95
Lamb biryani cooked in a dum with aromatic spices, raita.
Cooked with a pastry on the top and cut at the table, the amora when the lid was open was fantastic, I could smell all the spices and flavours – taste-wise this dish did not disappoint – it was great, the lamb was cooked perfectly and the taste was excellent,
Amritsari Butter Chicken £15.95
Tandoor grilled chicken supreme simmered in fresh tomato, honey, cream & dry fenugreek sauce. I got a sample of this dish, whilst the chicken was like everything else I ate on the night cooked to perfection, I felt the overall dish was slightly underwhelming. It lacked richness and a depth in flavour and also I expect a slight element of sweetness to a dish like this.
Gobhi Mutter Hara Piyaz £10.95
Sample size. Cauliflower, garden peas tempered with cumin, ginger & tomato with spring onion. Cauliflower is my favourite vegetable so I always order it when I see it on any menu. This was a simple but lovely dish, with flavours balanced and deep.
Dhaba Dal £6.95 Whole black lentils cooked overnight, with tomato & fenugreek, finished with cream. This was given to me, if I was asked I would have said no as I don’t like dhal made with black lentils. I didn’t like it.
Food-wise, overall the standard and quality were up there, it was great, from the ingredients used to the cooking of the food, everything was cooked to perfection. Where it was lacking was the taste department. It to me as if the chef was holding back with the use of spices and chillies, everything was a little too mild, and I don’t even like spicy (hot) food, in particular with some of the main courses or curries.
The service was truly impressive, as mentioned, having been to many Michelin starred restaurants in the past I’m aware of all the little touches. The staff had a calmness to them, always very polite, my glass of water never stayed empty and they would also refill without asking, table cleaned between each course.
The covid safety was very high also, all staff were wearing masks at all time, indoors, the restaurant is running at reduced capacity to allow for social distancing, there are shields between all tables, and hand sanitiser on each table as well.
This place is ideal if you wanted to visit a Michelin star Indian restaurant in Central but havnt been able to due to logistical reasons, like driving, kids or distance.
If you want to visit but are unsure of the prices, I would recommend booking the weekend menu feast has is only £28.50 pp and you get to try loads off the menu, great value.
If there’s one type of restaurant that’s hard to find that offers halal options it’s Italian, but here’s a new riverside restaurant located near Canary Wharf that has halal chicken, Lamb and beef! Finally a Halal Italian!
The restaurant is situated right by the river and makes for a nice picturesque place to visit for lunch or dinner
I have to say straight away that the food was excellent, I ordered a lot and liked everything!
The menu has loads of awesome sounding dishes, from classic Antipasti (fancy word for starters), salads, pizzas, pasta and more. The starters looked great and I genuinely wanted to order every item!
I went a bit over the top and ordered enough for 4 people…there was just 2 of us! They had to roll me home after this meal.
Starters
Mushroom and truffle arancini
Loved this dish. Fried balls of risotto balls and mushrooms with a strong hint of truffle running through it. Served on what seemed a bed of garlic mayonnaise. Loved this. 8.5/10
Fried squid
Perfectly cooked squid (calamari) in a crispy batter, so moreish and delicious 8/10
Cod coquets
A delicate deep-fried ball of crispy batter filled with flakey cod served on a bed of sweet pepper chutney which was a really tasty pairing 8.5/10
Garlic Bread with Cheese
Soft and fluffy stone baked garlic bread with cheese. 7/10
Beetroot and Goats cheese salad
I always get goats cheese when I see it on a menu, could have done with a touch of sweetness, but good dish nevertheless. 6.5/10
Mains
Apollo Pizza
Had to get a chicken pizza since it’s halal here! A simple pizza, with chicken, mushroom, tomatoes and truffle flavour, I wasn’t expecting such a large size of a pizza. This could be hard to finish for just one person. I managed one slice. Tasted really good though. 8/10
Beef Lasagna
So hard to find a halal Lasagna at a restaurant, apart from a home cook made one. Layers of cheese, bechamel sauce and beef ragu. It felt very comforting and well made, but I just felt it needed another layer of depth in flavour to hit. I don’t think it was a fresh one, the outside was a little charred and maybe have been reheated. Maybe I’m used to my homemade desified ones. 6.5/10
Green Tortellini
The flavours of this pasta were soo good. Felt like I was back In Rome, the tortellini was stuffed with porcini mushrooms and truffles to make a flavour sensation. Loved this. 9/10
Lamb Cutlets
Didn’t expect to see a Lamb dish on the menu but I was intrigued to try it. 3 prime cuts of lamb cutlets, served on a bed of white beds and Peppers. Not a dish I can say I’ve had before, but I liked the overall flavours. The lamb was a little overcooked for me, but the tasty lamb fat was kept on and was cooked well enough to enjoy the flavours. 8/10
Finished off with a small delicious cheesecake for dessert. 8/10
Really had a good enjoyable meal, all the food I had was really tasty and whilst the restaurant wasn’t very busy, the service was excellent and our server was very helpful in recommending what dishes to try
Whilst the restaurant wasn’t busy, the service was excellent and our server was very helpful in recommending what dishes to try – she made good choices.
The location by the Riverside made for nice views. I parked for free on a street a few mins walk away (by the tesco). Some items on the menu contain alcohol so please inform staff of dietary requirements before ordering. My meal was complimentary.
When it comes to restaurants with halal options the cuisine found tends to fall under the following categories of food either – Indian, Turkish/Middle Eastern, Grilled chicken or Burgers. Nothing wrong with that at all! it’s a favourite type of food of mine and I’m sure a fav of yours too. But there’s so much more to discover than burgers, curries and kebabs
So here’s a list of OVER 40 of my favourite spots for alternative halal food options. This is a list of my personal selection of restaurants, I have been to most of them.
NOTE: Halal status can change without notice, please double check when booking to confirm halal status, I have used my best research and knowledge to make sure the information provided here is accurate.
Updated July 7th 2021
British/European
The Great Chase
There’s no other place to start than here, a fully halal restaurant that serves modern European and British food from a talented chef and team that are at the driving force to deliver something new and different for the halal food scene. The food here is always new and different.
One of my most popular and favourite discoveries and was right under my nose, from the front of the restaurant you would be forgiven to think it was halal, but all the meat and chicken is from a premium halal supplier. The menu changes every month and while they do have one of the best burgers in London, they also have a menu that’s a mix of American, British and European classics.
I have been here 2 times and experienced fine dining at its best. Serving Modern European and British classics (1 Michelin star, Halal Lamb is standard, halal chicken available with 2-day pre-order)
They are a British restaurant that serves up all-day breakfast, brunch and lunch and dinner. I tried a few items as was impressed with the food, everything had quality, especially the breakfast eggs, so fresh and creamy Chicken, lamb and beef halal, certificates available.
3 locations. I went to Address: Ground Floor, 123 The Street Westfield Stratford City Shopping Centre, London E20 1EN
Traditional Roast Beef is available every day from @hsandco for only £11.50 as well as other European options. This place has improved since my first ever visit and serves really nice food. Fully halal
From Masterchef finalist chef Adam Handling comes the Flagship restaurant Flog, using local ingredients on a contemporary British menu. His previous joint in Brick Lane was THE BEST MEAL I HAVE EVER HAD – this place was good too, but not that same – it’s also very expensive. Halal options are available.
“All of it is usually Halal, but we recommend the guests to add on the comments of their booking to ensure availability when they visit.“
One for you lot who are unfortunate to live in South London (I’m joking!) I have not been. Yumn Brasserie offers an extensive range of European and fusion dishes. Halal Menu is available.
Address: 69-71 S End, South Croydon, Croydon CR0 1BF
My favourite type of cuisine is Malaysian, I love food from the South East of Asia, I have been to that area 5 separate times and was there for over 2 months in early 2019 (during the pandemic) so safe to say I’m a big fan of all food,
Rasa Sayang
Eating something delicious makes me happy and this absolutely amazing beef rendang from @rasasayang_london in Soho brought the biggest smile to my face and was one of my favourite things I’ve eaten in a long time. If you have never had beef rendang before, go here, order it and thank me with your Dua’s. It’s that good.
Loads of other Asian classics available as well. All meat Halal.
It may be a chain restaurant but I have been eating here for years and love it, the beef rendang is brilliant. tip – get the chocolate fondant for dessert. I took my now wife here for our 1st ever dinner date, so it will be special for me.
They have multiple locations my favourite and most visited is Soho, while Bayswater is fully halal
Address: 103 Wardour St, London W1F 0UG and 21-23 Westbourne Grove London W2 4UA
Had one of my best meals of 2019 at the Japanese restaurant @robata.soho with some beautiful Japanese dishes. The star of the show was the Hay Flamed Beef Fillet. At £25 for only 200g of meat, it’s a pricey dish, but you get your own little Robata at your table to cook your meat and the accompanying sides that included chimichurri were just delicious.
A classic spot for very good food with loads of halal options, but everyone’s favourite is not a meat dish, but the dynamite prawn’s shown below. Chicken, Beef and Lamb Halal.
Located inside Band of Burgers, this pop-up sushi spot opened up during lockdown and serves up sushi with a team with experience that worked in Yo Sushi.
All food halal, no alcohol in sauces.
Address: 22 Osborn St, London E1 6TD (inside band of burgers)
“At Yaki Ya!, we thoroughly prepare basic but essential ingredients to provide you with the true Japanese Street Food taste. From Teriyaki sauce, rice to the Chicken Katsu Curry in your mouth, we ensure every step along the way give you the perfection that you have always longed for“
Address: 399 Edgware Rd, London NW9 0FH (bang bang food hall)
Uyghur
Etles
The first Uyghur restaurant that I discovered, never had this type of food before? Its like a fusion of Chinese and Turkish food.
Copper Chimney is another new restaurant that serves up modern and classic Indian food, located in Westfield Shepherds Bush. I was invited to review Copper Chimney. I went during that strange period where restaurants were only open for a few weeks between lockdown 2 and 3.
The décor is quite smart, bright, modern, spacious with view to the open kitchen, where you can see the chefs working.
Drinks
Delhi Shikanji
mint, lemon, chaat masala & cold soda £3.95
Jeera Punch
pineapple juice, kokum syrup, lemon juice & cumin flavoured soda £3.75
A nice simple selection of mocktails that are more than just some mix of fizzy drinks, i liked the Delhi Shikanji, with the slight tangy touch of chaat masala
Starters
I decided to lean towards trying more starters as i normally do, so heres what i got
Grilled Burrah Chop
cinnamon-scented, tender lamb chops marinated for over 8 hours, seared and chargrilled £6.45
This chop was worth making the journey on its own! It was absolutely beautiful, thick, tender, juicy and packed full of flavour. I’m always on the lookout for good quality lamb chops, and this would make my list of the best around – at £6.45 for one it’s on the high end side, but its so good, you won’t be disappointed. 9/10
Chandni Chowk Chaat
From the streets of Old Delhi, Chatpata chickpeas, spiced potatoes, fresh yoghurt layered with sweet & spicy chutney £6.95
I’ve not seen a chaat presented and served in a glass cup before, I liked the creativity and the taste was good. I always judge a chaat on the strength and quality of the Tamarind sauce, and here it was good. 7.5/10
Tawa Batata Potatoes
tossed in tangy and sweet chutneys, signature chaat masala, and lime juice £6.95
Not sure i liked the flavours where, the potatoes could have been a bit crisper for me, the texture was a bit mooshy 5/10
Chargrilled Cheese Mushrooms
Fresh Mushrooms stuffed with Cheddar Cheese infused with a hint of coriander £9.95
At £10, I was expecting some truffles, but it was just closed cap mushrooms with cheese, not a every inventive dish and I expected more. 4/10
Amritsari Shrimp
From the popular alleys of Amritsar, Punjab, comes this carom-flavoured, batter-fried shrimp £9.95
Tasty deep battered shrimp, liked this one, different chilli and tangy flavours. 7/10
Paneer Tikka
Paneer cottage cheese marinated in a sharp mustard-turmeric, white pepper-infused yoghurt £12.95
These were ordered on a recommendation for something that looks good in a photo from a waitress.. I think she must have been pulling my leg, at the price point again I expected so much more. 5.5/10
Tandoor Roasted Sweet Potato
Orange sweet potatoes grilled in a Tandoor, sprinkled with in-house tangy and hot seasoning £9.95
I wasn’t expected much from this dish, nut I enjoyed the soft buttery texture of the sweet potato. 7/10
Mains
Lamb Rogan Josh
Boneless lamb, marinated for over 6 hours in our secret 21-spice blend and slow-cooked with Rogan, a special Kashmiri chilli spice-infused oil £16.95
I was expecting something special from this curry that was made from a blend of 21 different spices, but i found it pretty standard. 6.5/10
Butter Chicken Boneless
Tandoor chicken, simmered in our signature tomato, butter flavoured gravy and accentuated with dry fenugreek £14.95
I am a huge fan of butter chicken and look it at home regularly so I know the balance needed with ingredients to make a good one, however, I found this one lacked depth in flavor and no sweet undertones. More like tomato soup with some fenugreek. 6/10
Chicken Tikka Dum
Biryani Tandoor-roasted chicken tikka, layered saron rice, topped with crisp fried onions and ginger £13.95
Lamb biryani was served and cooked with a pastry case at the table and then cut open by the waiter – a theatrical touch. It did releases the aromas that were sealed in by the pastry. The rice was very light and quite fragrant, however, the lamb was a bit dry and overall lacked the deep flavors I’d expect from a biryani. 6/10
Now as you can see I ordered a lot, mainly because I knew the meal was free and I wanted to review as many items as I could. If I was to come back again, it would most likely be after a shopping session and I would probably order a couple of dishes as not everything was on the same level for me. Prices are a little expensive, but the location is the reason why. My total food bill for 2 people would have been close to £120, and that’s without service, but as you saw, I over-ordered.
For me the best things where the The lamb chops, chaat, Prawns and drinks
The start of Ramadan also coincides with the easing of Lockdown rules in England and allows restaurants to open and serve diners food outdoors. Below is a list of places that are open with outdoor eating and also have Halal options… But obviously its Ramadan and most people will be fasting during the month – but some people might find it useful
Please double check the halal status of the places listed
Update 02/05/2021
Thaispice London
I’ve not been here, but this seems to be a lovely area for a Iftar
I was hoping that I’d be able to post this review at a time when restaurants are open and safe to visit but felt that I had to share a quick shout to @steakonthegreen. I found myself on the rare occurrence of being in West London and remembered I had loads of invitations on this side of London and decided to visit here
It was a good decision, Probably one of my favourite dining experiences in ages and in glad I was able to visit before lockdown mid December
I’ll keep this review brief, but safe to say the food was great. There’s a separate halal menu and the staff were fully aware of what compromises halal. It’s rare to find a classic British and European restaurant that offers halal. I 100% recommended going here after lockdown. This is worth making a journey for
In addition to steaks, I also tried oysters for the first time and simple things like seafood chowder. Everything was great, including the best Mocktails ove had in a restaurant
Check out this amazing family-sized platter of Pani Puri (also called fuchka or gupchup or golgappa) from @guppacart another new small business born out of the Lockdown. One of my favourite childhood memories is eating Pani Puri in the streets of Bangladesh, it’s a classic street food snack
If you have never had it, it’s a simple dish that you kinda build yourself. Crack a hole in the mini puffy ball, fill it with the potato and chickpea mix then fill will the tasty tamarind sauce, then pop it whole in your mouth!
This was hands down the Best pani puri I’ve had! The tamarind sauce had the perfect balance of being tangy and flavoursome. The family platter pictured contained around 40 peices, which is perfect for a large family or gathering. I actually dropped some off at my parents and they absolutely love it as well, so it passed the parent test
Fully recommended! Contact @guppacart for prices and delivery. They are based in the East Side of London and deliver in the local area.
![Grand Trunk Road [Permanently Closed]](https://i0.wp.com/halalfoodguy.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/GrandTrunkRoad-39.jpg?fit=1440%2C1920&ssl=1 "Grand Trunk Road [Permanently Closed]")
