Mangalore Crab
StyleNest sample a very different kind of curry house, London’s Salaam Namaste restaurant.
The back streets of Russell Square aren’t exactly renowned for their gastronomic haunts, but one restaurant is shaking up the somewhat forgotten area of Central London and gaining a cult following.
Salaam Namaste sits rather modestly on Milman Street, sandwiched somewhere between Bloomsbury and Russell Square. In all honesty the restaurant looks much like the average Indian restaurant, but the food is anything but.
Head Chef, Sabbir Karim opened the restaurant in 2005 and since has been shaking up the ideas of what a curry house should be. The menu offers a range of dishes, from your go-to favourites to modern dishes inspired by classic Indian flavours.
For starters we choose curried quail marinated in mustard and honey, cooked in a traditional tandoor grill. The heat of the marinade and this way of cooking tenderised the meat perfectly, whilst a fresh salad and pepper tomato coulis gave the dish a modern twist.
We also sampled the ‘jungle-style’ chargrilled lamb kebab. Dark and crispy on the outside, the chunks of meat almost looked burnt, but tucking in the meat was succulent and mouth-watering on the inside. Jam-packed full of spice, it’s a must-order if you like your heat.
Jungle-Style Lamb Kebab
The starters really show off Chef Karim’s flare and passion for Indian cooking, and we’d quite happily order a handful and get stuck in.
On to the mains and there’s the obligatory dishes for those not wanting to deter too much from their usual – korma, rogan josh, biryani and the like. We went for a traditional South Indian dish – Goan-style seabass. Towered up high, succulent seabass comes packed with exotic flavours of curry leaf, mustard seed and coconut. No wonder this has become Salaam Namaste’s signature dish.
Other delights on the menu include lamb shank ‘Kaliyan’ – an aromatic, slow-cooked dish, goat curries and Lahori Tawa lamb chops – a rich, old recipe inspired by a classic Pakistani dish. In fact, the menu is so vast and varied and full of inspiring dishes, we’d have quite happily picked any of the mains.
The service at Salaam Namaste matches up to the food too, with warm, welcoming waiters who know the ins and outs of the menu and are on-hand to answer any queries.
Yes, the décor or branding might not be up there with the likes of trendy Dishoom or Cinnamon Kitchen, but the service, price point and food is second to none.
Residence of Russell Square have been going to Salaam Namaste for years, it’s one of those London haunts that once found feels like your own little secret.
Something tells us Salaam’s secret is soon to be out.
Salaam Namaste, 68 Millman Street, Bloomsbury, Russell Square, London WC1N 3EF Tel: 020 7405 3697 Email: [email protected]
Opening Times
Lunch: Daily 12.00 – 14.30, Dinner: Monday-Saturday: 17.30-23.30 and Sunday: 17.30 – 23.00
For recipe ideas and inspiration, visit StyleNest’s Recipe library, here.