Do you go dig dhal? Love a vindaloo? Adore a rogan josh? In honour of National Curry Week, we’ve pulled together our top curry venues for your and your date to check out. What’s even better is that it has been proven that fenugreek, a herb often used in curries, boosts male libido by 28 per cent. Fenugreek seeds are said are full of saponins – compounds, which are said to increase the production of male sex hormones. Right then, poppadoms at the ready…oh now look at the mess you’ve made…
Dishoom
This self-styled Bombay cafe in Covent Garden is a favourite with London’s curry-lovers and the food is inspired by traditional Parsi dishes served and loved by Bombayites. The interior is fab with retro designs, low-level lighting and vintage Indian adverts decorating the walls. Alongside the all-day menu, which includes favourites like biryanis, tandoori grills and traditional small plates and side dishes, you can expect interesting wines, lassis and chais. There is a second café in Shoreditch, which has a more industrial feel and slightly different menu.
Cinnamon Kitchen
Sister venue to The Cinnamon Club in Mayfair, the Cinnamon Kitchen is located a short walk from Liverpool Street Station and serves finely-tuned, modern Indian cuisine, including dishes like the steamed lobster dumplings, ‘rabbit and corn curry, smoked saddle of Kent lamb with rogan josh sauce or tandoori-spiced red deer with pickled vegetables. There is excellent service and a great atmosphere – perfect for a date!
Gymkhana
This venue was the first ever Indian restaurant to bag the National Restaurant of the Year at the National Restaurant Awards last year. Located in Mayfair, it says it is “inspired by Colonial Indian Gymkhana clubs, set up by the British Raj, where members of high society came to socialise, dine, drink and play sport.” Expect a wonderful menu featuring modern Indian dishes based on regional masalas and marinades, alongside a decadent cocktail and wine list.
Malabar
A favourite with Damon Albarn and Bill Nighy, this Notting Hill eaterie serves up inventive Indian cuisine, where all dishes are served on traditional metal thalis. The surroundings are cool and minimalist and the menu features old faithfuls like chicken korma, mixed grills and tikkas, alongside grilled chicken livers marinated in yoghurt, mustard oil and paprika or monkfish with green beans, garlic and curry leaves.
Amaya
If you are looking for somewhere to go for a special occasion, Amaya situated in Belgravia, screams glamour and luxury. Opened in 2004, it set the trend for a new wave of Indian world cuisine and specialises in stylish pan-Indian tapas. Check out the biryanis, kebabs or any of the Awadhi dishes, from the city of Luckhow.
And while you’re chewing on a naan, impress your date with some interesting curry facts:
1. The origin of the word ‘curry’ comes from ‘kari’, the Tamil word for ‘spiced sauce’
2. The largest naan bread ever made was 10ft long and took five hours to cook.
3. One of the hottest curries ever made is the ‘Chicken Naga’, made with naga chillies that are more than 100 times hotter than jalepeno peppers.
4. Indian food is the UK’s favourite cuisine and Indian restaurants outnumber Chinese restaurants, two to one.
5. In London alone there are more Indian restaurants than in Bombay and Delhi
Don’t say: “Naga chilli’s are the mild ones, right?”
Do say: “We can still snog, I’ve got mints.”
Are you going on a curry date to celebrate National Curry Week? Tell us @lovestruck
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