Getting out into town on a Monday night is always a pleasure. Most of Oxford Street is open for late night shopping and there’s a buzz in the air. There is something of a secret pleasure about indulging on the mother of all school nights! It feels, a bit, cheeky!
We drove into London in the evening and found plenty of parking around Grosvenor Square, but if you are a visitor to our spectacular capital, Chourangi is situated slap bang in shopping heaven. Just off Oxford Street and surrounded by many tube stations, Marble Arch being the closest. What could be more perfect than a busy day shopping and soaking in London’s vibe, then spoiling yourself with the most delicious and satisfying Indian food?
From the outside I could see Chourangi was a hub of activity. It was very busy but not crowded, full of happy, shiny people all lapping up the atmosphere and, of course, delighting in the amazing food. This is obviously a hugely popular destination for tourists and locals alike.
Currently, Chourangi are running a fabulous specials menu celebrating the auspicious Hindu festival Durga Puja which kicked off on October 1st. For this celebratory ten-day festival – chef turned restaurateur Anjan Chatterjee, has created an eclectic menu to honour the fabulous festivities. Bringing inspiration from the brightly lit and atmospheric streets of Calcutta.
My partner and I couldn’t wait to try the authentic and varied new menu. It all sounded amazing and we do love Indian food.
We were taken through each dish carefully and in much depth. It was pretty hard to narrow it down, but we opted for starters of Prawn Cutlets, Nizam’s Malai Tikka Chicken and were also advised to try the Lotus Stem Sweet Potato Chaat. We’d never eaten lotus stem before and we were excited to try something new. It’s did not disappoint! Crispy, sweet and a similar taste of potato with a hint of celery, it’s a dish I will definitely order again. Sat atop of a creamy and delicious sweet potato and yogurt mix it was both crunchy and rich. We both absolutely loved it.
Service was swift but we still had time to enjoy the ambiance of the restaurant. A super busy and thriving bar area served wine, beer and a whole host of cocktails and mocktails. We order a couple of mocktails which complimented the rich, and super tasty food.
When the mains arrived, we were anticipating great things as they looked totally gorgeous! Thick, dark curry sauce smothered my enormous prawns in the Kosha Chingri. Have you ever had to cut a prawn in two because it’s too big for one mouthful? That’s one of life’s little delights let me tell you. Fortunately, we’d been smart enough to order a couple of bread dishes, as the sauce was crying out to be mopped up! We had a choice of Calcutta Naan Bread, with Nigella seeds and butter and garlic – and from the Durga Puja menu – the incredibly light and authentic Koriashutir Kochuri. A balloon type bread, deep fried with fennel and green peas, perfect for soaking up curry sauce. But please, use your hands, eating Indian food is so much better that way!
My partner’s main was a standout dish. Again, from the Durga Puja menu – the BNR Mutton Curry. It comes cooked on the bone, so you can imagine the depth of flavour you are treated to from the marrow. The portions are perfectly balanced and we managed to finish the whole order, just finishing before we felt over stuffed and just before we couldn’t face dessert!
We completed our incredible dining experience with light and creamy coconut ice cream, deliciously refreshing black tea and another taste sensation from the Durga Puja menu – the Baked Rosogolla. Taking inspiration from not just India, this dessert reminded me of one I enjoy from the Middle East – a popular dish of baked curd cheese. Just the perfect, delectable way to complete a thoroughly indulgent, gratifying meal.
The Durga Puja menu is available now at Chourangi, Marble Arch. For bookings go to https://chourangi.co.uk/
Review and images by Saffron Bentley
