Saffron

In the heart Soho, Saffron leans into the comfort and colour of Indian cooking, balancing smoky heat with buttery richness. It is the kind of place where the first bite is as evocative as the last, the menu moving from street-side favourites to tandoor-fired showstoppers and generous thalis.

Onion bhaji plaits potato and onion with a lick of red chillies, while a classic samosa arrives with either spiced vegetables or minced meat tucked into flaky pastry. Simple, satisfying, and precisely what a London evening calls for.

From there, the tandoor takes centre stage. The tandoori chicken sizzler, a half chicken marinated in yoghurt and spices, lands at the table in a fragrant cloud, while chicken or lamb shaslik pairs tender meat with blistered vegetables. It is all about that char, that sigh of smoke, that unmistakable sizzle.

For sauce seekers, chicken tikka masala and butter chicken deliver silk and solace. And for those who like a little of everything, the thali is a feast: a vegetable thali with pakora and vegetable curry served with rice and naan, or a chicken or lamb thali that brings onion bhaji alongside various curry selections. Make a date with Saffron, bring your appetite, and let the tandoor do the talking.