Chillies West End

The 2013 edition of The List's Eating & Drinking Guide is out now – only £5.95 (+p&p).

This review is taken from the current (2013) edition.

On vibrant Woodlands Road, Chillies attracts nearby students and West-enders seeking a contemporary and gratifying Indian experience. Many are tempted by the mouthwatering domination of tapas dishes that offer small bowls of appetizing, well-spiced curries cooked up in the sizzling, open kitchen. The restaurant’s signature karahi lamb chops are tender, while spicy chilli and yoghurt dipping sauce is a delicious partner for melting brie pakora. A ‘secret selection of ingredients’ produces full flavour in the slow-cooked creamy dhal makhani. The latest lunch menu is good value at just over a fiver for mini poppadums, a tapas curry and nan or rice. Clever positioning of the takeaway counter and exposed brick walls are enough to create a well-defined dine-in restaurant space, with informal yet stylish layout. Muted lighting comes from white orbs lined across the ceiling. If the previous Halal no-alcohol policy put off patrons, the restaurant is now offering BYOB, with reasonable £1 corkage – though top-notch cool and creamy lassies in mango, strawberry or forest fruits, smoothies and milkshakes are enough to tempt a non-alcoholic drink selection. 

Takeaway review
While this upscale Indian offers a fine eat-in experience, its strictly halal no-alcohol policy may convince some to opt for takeout, towards which a substantial part of the slick Chillies operation is geared, even if they don’t yet deliver. Options are impressively varied – from curries, tandoori and kebabs, through to tapas thali, stone-baked pizzas and even healthy light-bites. Everything tastes freshly prepared. The tender ground masala-spiced karahi lamb chops deserve better than coming atop a pile of slightly sorry-looking chips. As you’d anticipate, Chillies’ hot curries are a cut above -– try the garam masala, cooked in a medley of spices for warmth on the tongue instead of heat, or the zesty gosht nimbo nariyal floating with lime slices.

• High point: Variety of quality tapas curries to sample
• Low point: Open kitchen can leave lingering sniffs on clothing