Whenever I’m asked to recommend a great and authentic indian restaurant, the name that slips off my lips is Chakra. London has a lot of fine dining Indian restaurants to be proud of and there are some big names that spring to mind, however Chakra is a delightful gem with a neighbourhood feel to it, and I sincerely urge anyone to experience its charm. I’ve dined at their branches in Kensington and Barnes, and last week I paid a visit to their newest opening in Little Venice, nestled between the calming and picturesque Great Union Canal and Regent’s Canal, with colourful houseboats, cosy cafes and warm and relaxing pubs lining the tranquil waterways.
Less than two minutes’ walk from Warwick Avenue tube station, Chakra Little Venice is situated on Formosa Street, a cosy little side street. The decor and arrangements are plush, particularly the dark velvet banquettes and seating, yet it doesn’t feel pretentious.
The menu at Little Venice offers much the same as its other branches and although it was tempting to order some firm favourites, we decided to try some different dishes. We kicked off with a trio of starters which were Bhel Puri (vegetarian/vegan) – puffed rice tossed with onions, tomatoes, pomegranate, topped with tamarind and nylon sev (OK I’ve had this one before but it’s excellent); Chilli Paneer (vegetarian) – cubes of home made cheese tossed in a spicy chilli sauce, served with pepper and shallots; and Chilli Chicken – lightly battered shredded chicken sauteed with pepper, fresh chilli and spring onions. Unfortunately the Chicken Lollipop (crunchy chicken drumsticks marinated in Szechuan sauce) was not available at the time. That’s something I really want to try next time.
I’m a big meat eater so it takes a lot to persuade me to opt for something vegetarian, however put Pani Puri, Bhel Puri and Chaat (in whatever variation) in front of me, and I will forget my carnivorous desires. There is just such an exciting mix of spices and sweet and savoury flavours, and this is certainly evident in Chakra’s Bhel Puri offering. The Chilli Paneer didn’t disappoint (paneer rarely does); it had the right balance of heat and was devoured in minutes. The Chilli Chicken offered the same as the paneer, except with crispy fried pieces of chicken doused in the rich, spicy sauce.
For the mains my eyes went straight to the Patiala Lamb Chop (Texel lamb cutlet marinated with sundried ginger and pounded chilli chargrilled). I will always order at least one or two grilled meat dishes at an indian restaurant simply because it’s something I cannot recreate at home. Lamb chops is always a good shout though there is a fine line between getting it spot on or charring it completely. When these arrived, I was drooling. The chops were bursting with spices and the meat was (to my relief) cooked to perfection and succulent.
We also ordered Saag Aloo (potatoes cooked with fresh spinach and infused with Indian spices) and Kake Da Lamb Rogan Josh (slow cooked Texel lamb with brown onion, Kasmiri chilli and plum tomatoes). Our waiter, Cedric took it upon himself to add extra spices to the Rogan Josh (apparently a lot of diners request milder versions from the menu). The gamble paid off as the lamb was absolutely tender, flavoursome and the gravy was divine. I normally wouldn’t have chosen this but Cedric insisted I would not be disappointed. The Saag Aloo was a little disappointing, not quite what I was expecting though I am comparing it to mum’s. Both mains were accompanied by naan and roti (Sarbabati Atta Roti), just what is needed to mop up the delicious food served at Chakra Little Venice.
At Chakra there are a variety of Indo-Chinese, classic Desi and Punjabi delectable dishes to choose from and it works because the menu isn’t overwhelming. Food here is for sharing too. Little Venice has indeed become just a little bit better with the arrival of Chakra, and if you find yourself in the West End of London, hop on the tube for a few stops and come here. Sometimes it’s good to escape the hustle and bustle and find refuge in a peaceful corner of London with amazing food.
For more information on Chakra’s restaurants (Little Venice, 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.
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