Salaam Namaste

'Trust not the book by its cover alone' maybe a familiar clichéd saying but this is what comes to mind when you step inside Salaam Namaste, a recent addition to the Indian restaurant scene in Bloomsbury. While you may not be overly impressed by the décor, which is rather modest by today's standards, reserve your judgment until you get a taste of the food there, which according to critics and patrons alike is 'vibrant, inventive and imaginative'.

What sets apart this unpretentious eatery from the widely varying curry houses that frequent the British gastronomic landscape is that it aspires to represent different culinary regions of the Indian sub-continent, such as Rajasthan, Goa, Punjab, Kerala, Kashmir and Hyderabad, as well as portray a few delights from Pakistan, Bangladesh and even Afghanistan. Quite a responsibility one might say, but for restaurateur Musabbir Karim, the challenge to present unified and yet disparate tastes is invigorating and fulfilling.

Take the starters for instance. The kathi kabab, a glorious thin chapathi like wrap bursting with the flavours of finely chopped tender spiced lamb, green chilli and cucumber, already has a huge fan following because of its combination of unique textures and tastes. The tiger prawns in Goan peri peri spice is another sizzling way to start your meal.

Choosing the mains might be a bit time consuming for the simple reason that you are tempted to try everything! However, for your first foray there, you could opt for the murgh ki shagorana, whole breast of grilled chicken filled with mince lamb and spinach, cooked with mildly spiced fresh cream and an exotic sauce, served with mushroom pulao. The seafood dishes are singularly appealing, and, to confirm that, you might like to  indulge in the Bangladeshi macchhi fry, chunks of sweet fresh water fish rolled in spices, fried golden, and served with potatoes, aubergine, tomatoes, fried onion, fresh coriander, lemon wedge and aromatic rice.

While the novelty of the dishes is what seems to pull in the crowd, those who prefer the tried and tested curries that evoke nostalgia will not be disappointed either. Timeless classics such as chicken tikka masala, murgh makhani or as the irreverent choose to call it, butter chicken, are all present on the menu and are definite crowd pleasers.

For dessert, there is the quintessential gulab jamun, smooth rounds of cottage cheese and flour, deep fried and dunked in hot syrup, which meet on your tongue and just melt. Or go for the kulfi, which is traditional Indian ice cream, redolent with crushed cardamom, fragrant saffron and chopped pistachios.

Named after the Hindi movie, Salaam Namaste, where the iconic protagonist plays a chef, this small restaurant, with its signature dishes, refreshing flavours and reasonably priced menu, could well linger in your memory as one of the best Indian restaurants you have visited, perhaps a visit to their Website will convince you.