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London's oldest Indian restaurant still going strong

Built 74 years ago, the oldest Indian restaurant in cosmopolitan London, Veeraswamy, continues to draw celebrities and everyday people in equal measure, SADA reports.

The restaurant, which previously belonged to an English family, was bought by leading hotelier Namita Panjabi, who had earlier set up the other famous Indian eatery -- Chutney Mary -- in Chelsea.

Panjabi's customers have included members of the British royalty and also statesmen from European, Gulf and South Asian countries. Besides, Hollywood celebrities and their Indian counterparts have also been glimpsed here, savouring the delights prepared by the restaurant's expert chefs.

The restaurant, where tables need to be booked way in advance, is situated in the West End -- the heart of London -- close to all the theatres and fashionable shopping areas of Regent Street.

Veeraswamy's vibrant interior, which has made creative use of glass and different wallpapers, is as zesty to the soul as its menu is to the stomach.

The menu consists of sumptuous north and south Indian dishes. Different dishes are served at lunch and dinner and are prepared by a team of regional specialist chefs recruited directly from India.

"Our chefs are skilled in different specialities and are very well trained. We owe our good food to them," says Panjabi, who spends most of her day at the restaurant.

Start off with pappadums and chutney or chicken samosas to build up your appetite. In the main dishes, the crisp masala dosa, is probably the best item.

Another south Indian offering is the vegetarian platter, where vegetables cooked in various ways are served with delicious accompaniments.

Drawing from the coastal regions of India, Veeraswamy offers a range of seafood including a delicious lobster curry from Malabar cooked with raw mangoes and turmeric.

For meat lovers there is the lamb dish called Avadhi roghan josh from Lucknow, the city of India's Muslim nobility. Desserts too are delicious and the yoghurt-based shrikhand is highly recommended.

Indo-Asian News Service

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