If there is one thing I have missed dreadfully since the pandemic hit, it has been eating out. I have accepted the fact that it may be another year till I can board a flight without all the necessary tests and paperwork needed (the last time was September 2019) but the cravings I’ve had for visiting the abundance of food choices the country has to offer (especially in London) has been excruciating. Needless to say, I was excited when the first phase of restrictions were lifted which allowed restaurants to open their doors and allow customers to sit in and dine. I soon started making reservations at some of my favourite eateries like I was planning a holiday.
A few weeks ago, I visited Chakra’s latest new branch in Barnes. Barnes, if you aren’t aware, is a beautiful part of London, nestled in the borough of Richmond. Admittedly whenever I think of Richmond or neighbouring areas like Fulham, I do feel slightly anxious as it seems like it’s on the other side of the world (for this north Londoner) but it turns out, it’s probably about 35 minutes’ drive without traffic and a hell of a lot convenient to get to by car.
Chakra already has a branch in Kingston and Kensington (the latter which I’ve been to and reviewed). Having sampled their culinary delights before, I was confident about trying something different. The restaurant is tucked away on the far corner of the high street and like its Kensington branch, the decor is sublime. However, the first thing I sensed when I arrived was the atmosphere. Bearing in mind we are still in a pandemic and restrictions had just lifted (with the big lift not until 19th July), the restaurant floor was brimming with happy, chatty diners including a birthday party. For a moment it felt like it Covid had never happened or at least was a very distant memory. It certainly felt normal, safe and comfortable. I realise this may not be the case for everybody but as someone who has self-isolated for the entire duration of the lockdown with working from home, and having had both my vaccinations, I am keen to resume some kind of a normal life again.
We were greeted by the maître d’ who showed us to our table. Service was quick and attentive from the start, considering how busy the restaurant was for a Thursday evening (which is essentially the new ‘Friday’, right?) Scanning the menu, my eyes fell on the street food for starters. We kicked off with Popadums (£3.50) with a trio of sauces (each one equally delicious), Bhel Puri (vegetarian/vegan), which comprises of puffed rice tossed with onions, tomatoes, pomegranate, and topped with tamarind & nylon sev (£5.50) and Lucknowi Samosa Chaat (vegetarian/vegan), which is samosa and spiced chick peas, topped with mint, tamarind and sev (£7.50).
Each dish was beautifully presented, with bursts of colours, a smattering of pomegranate seeds and floral garnishing. The pastry of the samosa, in particular, was ridiculously good, enveloping the goodness of the spicy filling inside. The portion sizes were generous as well, and between the two of us we did struggle to wipe the plates clean.
For our mains, we chose Chicken Tikka Tandoor – grilled, sweet paprika, smoked cloves marinated chicken mint chutney (£10.95), and Paneer Butter Masala (vegetarian) – cottage cheese simmered in creamed tomato and spices (£9.95), accompanied by Sade Chawal – steamed basmati rice (£4.95) and Sarbabati Atta Roti, wholewheat chapattis (£3.50). As a native speaker, I do like how some of menu items are identifiable by their actual names. For example, ‘sade chawal’ is literally ‘plain rice’. For refreshments, we went with Nimbu Paani, a traditional lime soda cooler which was a mix of sweet and salty (£6.00).
Once again, the mains were served in a spectacular fashion. The Chicken Tikka Tandoori was succulent but very spicy as was the mint chutney that accompanied it, while the Paneer Butter Masala was sweet thanks to its rich tomato gravy.
To round off our meal, we opted for Kulfi Ki Dukaan, a pistachio flavoured Indian ice cream on a stick (£6.00), sprinkled with rose petals, which I could have devoured 10 times over.
For authentic Indian food, Chakra hits the right notes and offers a touch of class, and all at a very reasonable price. Presentation does matter, after all your eyes react first before your mouth waters and Chakra has nailed this. It has to be said that the food here is strong on flavour and high on the hot and spicy scale, which makes a welcome change from other Indian restaurants toning down the flavours but may not be to everyone’s liking so take heed on this if you’re thinking about visiting Chakra. If the preference is mild, then this should be requested or at least enquired about.
For more information on Chakra’s three restaurants (Kingston, Kensington and Barnes) as well as the menus, visit https://www.chakra.restaurant. Chakra also caters for vegans.
*My visit to Chakra was complimentary for review purposes but my words and opinion are entirely my own. All prices quoted are correct at the time of publication. Please check the venue’s menu for the most up-to-date prices.
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