The Tamil Prince: Where Indian Flavours Meet Gastro-British Charm
- Where? Caledonian Road & Barnsbury station, 115 Hemingford Rd, London N1 1BZ
- How much? ££-£££
- Cuisine? Indian small plates
- Vegetarian options 🌽 – Yes
- Vegan options 🌱 – Limited
- Gluten free options 🌾 – Yes
- Dog friendly? Yes
The Tamil Prince has piqued quite the interest in London, reputed as a gastro-style eatery serving up a delectable selection of Indian small plates. Most notably, their Channa bhatura with raita has taken the internet by storm. This giant, pillow-puffed, buttery bhatura is difficult to miss as it waltzes through the restaurant, and it’s utterly delicious!
In the evening, this charming and unassuming restaurant comes alive with a warm glow, beckoning you inside. The intimate space is cosy with the flickering glimmer of silver candelabras and low-lit chandeliers, feeling as though you’ve walked into the front room of someone’s house. Adding to the homely ambiance, is the option to share tables with fellow guests – if you’re anything like me and like to see what others are ordering before making your move, then this is the perfect option.
The Tamil Prince is conveniently located just a short walk from The Hemingford Arms, a popular Irish pub with live music and the occasional famous face! If you’re not quite ready to call it a day after dessert, make sure to head up the road and check out this unique and vibrant spot – we managed to bump into author Dolly Alderton, so it was well-worth the trip.
The Food & Drinks
Beyond its enchanting interior and its internet buzz, the Tamil Prince also serves up a variety of delicious small plates. There is indeed no smoke without fire, and the restaurant has certainly earned its high repute.
There are so many tasty options, that boiling it down to a few plates is a near impossible task – fortunately, our lovely waitress was on hand to help, recommending crowd and personal favourites, which did not disappoint! Though we didn’t leave enough space for dessert this time around, we enjoyed mouthwatering entrées, curries, and breads, all of which you can read about below! But to begin with, I’d like to raise a glass to their spiced Bloody Mary and the Pina Colassi (a sorbet inspired take on a Pina Colada), which set the tone upon arrival – we knew we were in for a treat…
Onion bhaji with mint chutney (v) – £7.50
9.7/10 – These crunchy, aromatic bites of battered onion were absolutely delicious. We couldn’t get enough of its soft, spiced centre, concealed by its crispy porcupine spikes. The mint chutney was equally tasty – we even had to request a second serving.
Okra fries (ve) – £7.00
6.7/10 – Another heaping of crispy goodness, these lady fingers were firm and flavoursome. My only request would be that they came with a dip. After a few mouthfuls, it started to taste just like more of the same: batter and oil.
Thanjavur chicken curry – £13.50
10/10 – I absolutely love chicken curry, so when I say that this is one of the best I’ve ever had, that’s high praise. Between me and my friend, we were rationing out the chicken piece by piece, making sure to fairly share this buttery, tender curry as evenly as possible. The curry sauce was sweet and creamy, making for the perfect warming blanket over the coconut pilau rice. I highly recommend this dish – total perfection!
Channa Bhatura with raita (v) – £10.50
10/10 – Now for the star of the show. The giant bhatura really is a jaw-dropping showstopper, catching everyone’s green-eyed gaze as it makes its way from the kitchen to the table. Once you pierce into the doughy cloud, releasing a flurry of steam, the bhatura deflates and is ready to tuck in to. All in all, there is really nothing not to love. The channa is rich and packed with flavour, and the bhatura is a flaky, buttery delight. Once you compile your loaded bhatura with channa and raita, I assure you, this will be one of the best bites from your meal! Worth the hype.
Buttery, flaky roti 1pc (v) – £3.50
7/10 – The roti is undoubtedly delicious; however, I’d caution against ordering a bhatura and a roti, as it was a lot of starch for one meal. Both are tasty, but if I had to choose between the two, the bhatura takes the cake.
Coconut pilau rice (ve) – £5.50
9/10 – A side serving of rice is an absolute must. The curries come without rice, and you definitely need something to soak up all of that delicious sauce. Perfectly cooked, slightly sweet and fluffy – no complaints.
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