Namaaste Kitchen is a must try restaurant!

I’d been wanting to try Sabbir Karom’s Namaaste Kitchen for quite some time. Having heard such great things about the restaurant it was top of my list when I paid a rare visit to London last week. I was not disappointed.

As planned, I arrived at 6pm to meet Sabbir. He was running a bit late so I ordered a lager and was seated in the centre of the restaurant. To my right was a stylish bar and to my left an open grill where diners could watch chefs prepare their grilled specialties right before their eyes.

By the time Sabbir arrived, I had ordered so he went back to the kitchen to see how things were going. I’d already told Sabbir by email that I wanted to try some of Namaaste Kitchen’s specialties and the waiter made sure I did just that.

Papadoms were promptly brought to my table with a selection of mouth-watering chutneys. This was followed by a surprise puri which had been filled with masala mash and presented over a glass of spicy tamarind sauce. I was told to pour the sauce over the stuffed puri. Talk about amazing!

After these light starters came a soft shell crab that had been marinated in a green pepper corn and lemon marinade. It was then coated in home made batter and semolina, deep fried and then served with a spicy fig and prunes sauce. I absolutely love soft shell crab. This was cooked to perfection and a real treat.

Next came a tasting platter of marinated and grilled salmon, chicken, seekh kebab and the tastiest lamb chops I think I’ve every had. Oh, and let’s not forget the marinated tandoori quail. Are you getting an idea of how mind blowing this meal was yet?

Now you might think this was the end of it all and I have to say I wish I had a few more stomachs. What came next was absolutely gorgeous.

The waiter placed in front of me one of the most delicious fish courses. Bangli Tali Machchi is Tilapia fillet that has been marinated in a special tandoori marinade and then served with tomato and aubergine sauce. What a delightfully spicy dish. It just melted in the mouth – crispy on the outside and nice and tender in the centre.

Also served with the fish was a bowl of black urad dhal lentils and buttery homemade keema naans.

But wait! There’s more. To finish it all off, I was presented with a passion fruit cheese cake. It was delicious and so nicely presented. While eating it, a group of lads were seated at a table near mine. They didn’t see any of the common curry house favourites on the menu and asked the waiter where the jalfrezis and kormas were.

He answered that they didn’t feature on the menu but that they would be more than happy to make these curries for them.

That’s the kind of place Namaaste Kitchen seems to be. Efficient and friendly service and spectacular food all served in pleasant surroundings.

As I waddled out the door, I knew I had to go back soon. I really wish my wife Caroline had been there to enjoy it all with me. What a fantastic restaurant.

Namaaste Kitchen

4 Parkway
Camden
London NW1 7AH
Tel: 020 7485 5977
www.namaastekitchen.co.uk

Disclaimer: I was Namaaste Kitchen’s guest that evening. Thank you so much to Sabbir and team.