Kennington Tandoori

A South London stalwart with a forward-looking spirit, Kennington Tandoori has been part of the capital’s culinary conversation since 1985. Known for reimagining modern Indian cookery, it blends traditional flavours with Western technique to create plates that feel both rooted and refreshingly current. The result is cooking with confidence and clarity, where spice is used as a language rather than a headline.

From the clay oven’s smoky char to silky, slow-cooked sauces, the kitchen moves with ease between comfort and verve. Think chicken tikka with bright chutney, Old Delhi chicken tikka masala layered in tomato richness, or naga chilli chicken that brings a measured, fiery hum. Goan vindaloo of lamb has a sharp, sour edge, while overnight cooked makhani daal offers velvet depth. There is flair in seafood too, from king prawn mustard malai to KT’s pan-seared cod with spices and coconut, and a nod to street corners with Calcutta streetfood chilli paneer.

The room is modern and polished yet warmly hospitable, the kind of place where conversation lingers and a saffron gin and tonic feels entirely at home. Round things off with KT chocolate and cardamom mousse or gajar ki halwa and you have the full measure of its pioneering spirit. Book in, settle back, and let the spice trail do the talking.