Indian Veg, Chapel Market
“Vegetarian food is orgasmic,” shouts a poster in the bright green shop.
The food at this no-frills Indianbuffet is testament to that. Alongside the food at this Chapel Market restaurant, the walls, from floor to ceiling, are lined with vegetarian propaganda, declaring that giving up meat can cure all of your ills. But this unsubtle counsel only adds to the charm of this eatery.
At only £3.95 for all you can eat, your wallet may be able to stretch to regular lunches here, even if your waistband can’t. Lined up in stainless steel trays are three different curries, dahl and three different rices. The standard is consistently high, but there is not a great variation in the dishes and they are on the mild side.
If there’s room on your plate you can pile it high with onion bhajis, the excellent puri (deep fried chapattis) and fresh salad. The mango lassis are excellent – although are too large to finish on top of all of the food. Soya milk versions are available too.
This is a great place to drop in at lunch time or after work, and you are never lacking for anything to read. Alongside the boards of spurious facts about vegetables there graphs about the amount of human waste in space and pictures of Miss Asia 1998 at the restaurant, declaring, “If it’s good enough for her, it’s good enough for you.”
The restaurant is now celebrating its 25th year, with the food made by the same chef, Mohammed Noure-Safa. It has become something of an institution in Angel, with a host of regulars (including myself).
Leaving this place you will feel gorged on food and veggie propaganda – and all for less than a fiver.
