This was quite possibly the most appalling Indian meal I have ever had. Full marks to one of the waiters for the most hilarious wig ever. No marks at all for the insincere service, disgusting drinks and radioactive food. Avoid the vegetable masala like the plague unless you like frozen peas and raw onion skins. As for the sauces with the poppadoms…they are quite indescribable. Crap, crap, crap.

I don't know how I feel about this place. As the other reviewers have noted, they sure like to promote themselves with all the newspaper articles in the window. I went at 9:30pm on a Wednesday and it was pretty packed - always a good sign. I was seated promptly by the pretty indifferent staff and then promptly forgotten about for 20 minutes. I eventually ordered the Chicken Korma which is the yardstick by which all Indian restaurants are measured. When it eventually came I did a double-take because it was served in what looked like a dog bowl. Not exactly appetizing. The food didn't look great either, there was something about the color that reminded me of school chicken stew. It tasted reasonable but nothing to write home about.

But when I settled up, everything changed. The waiter helped me on with my coat, tucked in my chair, walked me to the front door, held it open and wished me a pleasant evening. WTF?

The food here really is excellent, no wonder they've gotten all those awards! But the service on the night I came here was disappointing. It felt a bit like being on a conveyor belt and having food shoved down our throats before briskly being pushed back outside into the cold and rainy night. Obviously they'll be busy on a Friday night and service needs to be efficient, but we came to eat quite late and it wasn't that busy, no need to be so brusque and unfriendly. Mirch Masala down in Balham is another great (and very cheap) curry house, and that place is always busy, with queues going out the door. Still, they seem to manage efficient and fast service without making you feel you're an inconvenience to them.

These guys are proud of the fact that Pierce Brosnan once dined here. They have a big picture of him and some of the waiters in the front window along with lots of awards for best curry etc. from food critics. This marketing tool obviously works as i strolled in thinking "If it's good enough for James Bond, it's good enough for me." The curry here is very nice and the restaurant is spacious. It's no cinammon club, but it's good for clapham high street. Prices are decent and the staff are always friendly. I'll be eating there lots more in the future!