Indian and South Asian
0.5 miles
The city's East End has such a collection of curry houses I've always found it impossible to recommend just one. However, since I strayed just a little further from the usual suspects on Brick Lane I've uncovered Anokha - a restaurant that's surely one of London's best curry houses.
Luckily for Londoners, there are two Anokha establishments in the capital - one on Burgon Street and the restaurant I visited on Creechurch Lane. Located at the foot of one of London's most iconic buildings, The Gherkin, it looked something of a landmark itself. It's been the go-to spot not only for locals in the know, but for the celebrity clientele it has wowed for years - from prime ministers to footballing legends.
Take a flight of stairs down from street level and step into an oasis of luxury and calm. Soak up the low, friendly chatter all around and notice the restaurant's striking black and white decor - illuminated by soft lights hanging over rows of uncluttered cream tabletops and dark chocolate chairs.
Anokha means 'unique' and even before reaching for my fork the restaurant was living up to its name. For starters, my onion bhajis had been prepared in a way I have never seen before. Like tasty-looking bird's nests, they were served in loose handfuls - delicate strips of spiced onion lightly arranged into mouth-watering mounds. They were melt-in-the-mouth delicious, sweet and perfectly cooked. From there I tucked into a selection of juicy treats on a tandoori platter: chicken, king prawn, lamb, salmon and some tender lamb chops. And for the main course, a coconut and red chilli xacuti chicken Goan curry and a sea bass drenched in flavour. This was where Anokha really began to shine. Some Indian restaurants can overwhelm the palate with spices, but here the masterchefs, like chemists, intricately balance and fine-tune the flavours of each dish to ensure that each forkful offers something new for the tastebuds.
Wash it all down with a few pints of ice-cold Cobra or Kingfisher (naturally) and you have a fine-dining experience in one of London's finest curry houses. Whichever of the Anokha establishments you find yourself in, it'll be like nothing you've ever tried before.
Luckily for Londoners, there are two Anokha establishments in the capital - one on Burgon Street and the restaurant I visited on Creechurch Lane. Located at the foot of one of London's most iconic buildings, The Gherkin, it looked something of a landmark itself. It's been the go-to spot not only for locals in the know, but for the celebrity clientele it has wowed for years - from prime ministers to footballing legends.
Take a flight of stairs down from street level and step into an oasis of luxury and calm. Soak up the low, friendly chatter all around and notice the restaurant's striking black and white decor - illuminated by soft lights hanging over rows of uncluttered cream tabletops and dark chocolate chairs.
Anokha means 'unique' and even before reaching for my fork the restaurant was living up to its name. For starters, my onion bhajis had been prepared in a way I have never seen before. Like tasty-looking bird's nests, they were served in loose handfuls - delicate strips of spiced onion lightly arranged into mouth-watering mounds. They were melt-in-the-mouth delicious, sweet and perfectly cooked. From there I tucked into a selection of juicy treats on a tandoori platter: chicken, king prawn, lamb, salmon and some tender lamb chops. And for the main course, a coconut and red chilli xacuti chicken Goan curry and a sea bass drenched in flavour. This was where Anokha really began to shine. Some Indian restaurants can overwhelm the palate with spices, but here the masterchefs, like chemists, intricately balance and fine-tune the flavours of each dish to ensure that each forkful offers something new for the tastebuds.
Wash it all down with a few pints of ice-cold Cobra or Kingfisher (naturally) and you have a fine-dining experience in one of London's finest curry houses. Whichever of the Anokha establishments you find yourself in, it'll be like nothing you've ever tried before.
Opening Hours:
| Mon: | 11am-3pm, 5.30pm-11pm |
| Tues: | 11am-3pm, 5.30pm-11pm |
| Weds: | 11am-3pm, 5.30pm-11pm |
| Thurs: | 11am-3pm, 5.30pm-11pm |
| Fri: | 11am-3pm, 5.30pm-11pm |
| Sat: | 5.30pm-11pm |
