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Following the success of Bangalore Express in SE1, Bangalore Express
has just opened in the City and is set to become one of London's most
exciting Indian restaurants.
Masterminded by Charles Hill and Yogesh Datta, creators of the
award-winning The Painted Heron, Bangalore Express has an extensive
menu which challenges the boundaries of Indian cooking. A
contemporary take on traditional flavours and full of fresh,
fragrant, wholesome dishes, the menu ranges from classic to
contemporary with nods to India's many distinct regional styles. It
is split into categories such as tapas style dishes as well as more
substantial dishes including oven roasted tandoori and dosa -
Southern Indian rice and lentil crepes.
To start with, the trio of chutneys (mango, garlic and beetroot) are
homemade and certainly set the standard for the rest of the meal.
Dishes range from Spice crusted fish sticks with curried mango sauce
to Chilli paneer cheese on yoghurt cake with red onions on the
sharing menu; Chicken Tikka Supreme marinated in sweet red chillis to
Tiger prawns marinated in lime pickle from the tandoor menu and
salads such as Spice roasted duck with pine nuts, raisins, peppers
and coriander with bulgur wheat. There is also a Deluxe menu which
includes dishes such as Wild soft-shell crabs fried in sesame &
chilli Cobra beer batter, Lobster tails in Kerelan boatman's curry
with spinach rice or Diced Venison in Kashmiri roganjosh curry with
apricot, served with keema naan.
"Our big plates are particularly popular" says Yogesh -
Executive chef of Banaglore Express and The Painted Heron.
"Modern fusion dishes with Indian flavours. These special dishes
include Indian fish and chilli chips, South African bunny chow with
curried lamb, peas and sweetcorn in a bread shell, Carribean curried
goat with rice, sweet potatoes and fried plantain chips, Calzone
Indian pizza and Masala burgers." There are also big plates of
curry and rice where guests can select their choice of dish from
cooking style, vegetable and rice.
Situated in Corbet Court, opposite Leadenhall Market, Bangalore
Express spans two floors. The ground floor has a lively bar - perfect
for after-work drinks and bites - whereas the downstairs restaurant
creates an intimate setting with booths and freestanding tables -
suiting friends, couples and business groups alike. There is also a
screened area which lends itself to larger parties of between 10 and
24 people.
Designed by Outline Architects, the restaurant's interior is unique
and funky - a geometric fusion of red and grey. Clusters of lights
hang from the ceiling and decorative steel tiffins cover the red
walls behind the bar. Wooden booths and flooring add a warm glow.
With a full bar license and free wi-fi access, Bangalore Express is
perfect for whiling away an hour with a pint or enjoying one of the
many cocktails with friends after work - there is no obligation to
eat, if you can resist! Draft and bottled beer are available, as well
as an extensive range of non alcoholic drinks including lassies,
smoothies and freshly squeezed juices. The wine list is more than
your average Indian restaurant with the standard drinks list
featuring over 25 wines by the glass as well as a selection of Wine
Flights consisting of 3 glasses of wine. The Bangalore Express Flight
includes Terrarum Gewurztraminer Reserva, Great Southern Reisling and
a Soave Classico Superiore. There are also Wine Flights of a single
varietal such as the Shiraz Flight which included a Shiraz,
Shiraz-Voignier and a 'Jester' McLaren Vale Shiraz.
The deluxe drinks list features an interesting and well priced
selection with whites ranging from a Gewurtztraminer Reserva from the
modern winery Vina Morande to a Puligny-Montrachet from one of its
star producers Domaine Etienne Sauzet. Reds include an elegant Rioja
Crianza from Vina Izadi to the Gevrey-Chambertin from Domaine Jacques Prieur.
The cocktail list includes favourites such as the Manhattan,
Singapore Sling and Cosmopolitan, as well as the Bangalore Indian
Summer - their signature gin based cocktail made with secret
ingredients! There is also an excellent selection of premium spirits
and liqueurs for those enjoying a lingering lunch or dinner.
Covers: 40 guests seated, 90 standing upstairs in the bar; 135 seated
downstairs in the restaurant
Opening hours: 11am - 11pm Mon to Fri; 6pm - 11pm Saturday; Sunday - closed.
Bangalore Express: 1 Corbet Court, Gracechurch Street, London EC3V
0AT. Tel: 020 7220 9195. www.bangaloreexpress.co.uk |
