Ten years ago I could count the good Indian restaurants in London on one hand, but the last few years has seen a flurry of fantastic, authentic and delicious regional Indian eateries arrive on the London food scene. Darjeeling Express is the latest to open, at the very top of the Kingly Court complex just off Carnaby Street.
The dining room decor at Darjeeling Express is fun and stylish, it was a warm and friendly retreat away from the rainy London streets when we popped along for an indulgent weekday lunch.
It is the first permanent restaurant from Indian cook Asma Khan, who first made an impression on the London food scene with her vibrant pop-ups. At Darjeeling Express the menu is inspired by the food of her childhood, influenced by different areas of India.
I loved the sound of everything on the menu… classic Indian dishes with a creative twist. While we waited eagerly for our food to arrive we sipped on Darjeeling Old Fashioned cocktails (an alluring mix of Darjeeling tea syrup, Four Roses whisky, lime and bitters) and Sweet Basil Lemonade (a refreshing non-alcoholic choice from the drinks list).
Each of the dishes we tried was delicious, and unusually, nothing on the table disappointed. Of the starters don’t miss the Lentil fritters, which were mouthfuls of crispy crunchy heaven. I had several favourites from the main courses… Paneer Korma is utterly addictive, soft cubes of Indian cheese are cooked in a mild creamy coconut milk sauce gently spiced with green chillies. The sauce was velvety and smooth, with a lovely soft sweetness, I could have eaten it as soup. Goat Kosha Mangsho is a wonderful introduction to goat if you haven’t eaten it before. This Bengali curry had an intensely flavoured sauce and the slow-cooked meat was wonderfully tender and delicious. If you can fit in a third main course (I highly recommend you do) go for the Methi Chicken. Boneless chicken thighs are cooked with fenugreek leaves and tomato, to create a well-balanced and aromatic curry which I can’t imagine anyone not loving.
After trying most of the savoury menu I was quite relieved to see only two options for dessert. We shared a portion of the ‘Khoobani ka Meetha’ (stewed hunza apricots served with cream). It was a simple but comforting sweet pudding, the perfect palate cleanser after a feast of intensely flavoured curries.
Darjeeling Express is a great place to enjoy lovingly made, seriously tasty Indian cuisine in a cosy central London location.
More information and book a table at Darjeeling Express here.