Vindaloo Vic

Definitive Reviews of London’s Indian Restaurants

Punjab 6

This claims to be the “UK’s Oldest North Indian Restaurant”, having opened either in 1946 (according to their menu) or 1947 (according to their website). It’s located just off Shaftesbury Avenue, and it successfully passes the VV “smell test”, as an alluring aroma of curry hits you from a range of at least 100 metres.

The interior comprises a series of brightly-lit interconnecting rooms, with orange walls and orange table-cloths. The menu is quite short, and boasts some house specials, including “Grandad’s Special Kali Daal” and Acharri Gosht, made with pickled lamb.

Not feeling too adventurous, we went for the Chicken Jalfrezi and the Chicken Madras — both good, although nothing out of the ordinary. Side dishes included an excellent Baigan, an aubergine dish and the above-mentioned Kali Daal.

My only criticism is that the staff were keen to rush us through the meal, taking our order almost as soon as we had sat down and then delivering the various courses in rapid succession.