Restaurant review - Chutney Mary

Submitted on December 27, 1998
Review by Sunil Lal

Chutney Mary for me is unquestionably Britain's finest and most exciting Indian restaurant. Speaking as a previous resident of Bombay, the only place in India where the full array of Indian cuisine can be sampled at the various eating holes, Chutney Mary is the only place I have come across where I can sample proper Indian food from many regions. Incidentally, please do not call it Anglo Indian - it is real gourmet Indian!

At my last meal there, a few days before Christmas, the starters which I and my friends had included a delicious tangy moong bhel - a street food dish from Bombay, a very fresh tasting and subtle crab cake from Goa, and a splendidly fiery calamari chilli fry from Kerala. The main courses which were also outstanding were a robust and earthy masala roast lamb, a mellow lamb curry from North India - baoli handi - and a very spicy, coconut infused chicken curry from Goa.

An unusual mango daiquiri kulfi, and sweet samosas from Bomabay rounded off an exceptional meal.

A Tokay Pinot Gris, and a Cousino Macul form Chile were good accompanying wines to the spice - they had the body and flavour.

The service was efficient, and helpful, though perhaps they could smile more.

The interiors were very pretty with a good combination of period and low voltage lighting.

The meal for 4 including wine and service cost me abot £150 - much better value than say Quaglinos or the Avenue.

Try it yourself!

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