Harden's says
Having been in E1 for yonks, Cyrus & Pervin Todiwala upped sticks in 2021 to reopen in the docks, complete with a spangly new site and attached cookery school.
Harden's survey result
Summary
“Cyrus and Pervin Todiwala have done it again, with the new incarnation of their bastion of Indian and Parsee food”, on the Royal Docks “just moments from London Excel and City Airport”. “After 26 years, they moved from the fringe of the City in E1 to Royal Albert Wharf E16” and “the food and the personal service remain of the highest nature”. “It’s just such original and delicious cuisine”, “especially on nights when Cyrus cooks Parsee (but it’s always good anyway)”. Unless you happen to live out that way, though, the new spot could be mistaken for “the middle of nowhere”: “we travel over two hours to dine here: the new menu is delicious, the themed evenings a joy… but I wish they were back in Prescott Street!”.
Summary
“New venue, same great flavours and hospitality” – Cyrus and Parvin Todiwala score a major thumbs up for their new “Indian paradise”, which, in early 2022, relocated from their age-old location (on the grungy fringes of the City), to this “new site in a fabulous spot on the Royal Docks, and right on the River Thames too, giving you amazing views back up the river past City Airport to Canary Wharf” (nearest DLR, Gallions Reach). The menu is in a new format too – focused more on small plates and designed for sharing – and delivers “Indian dishes often with a Portuguese twist that are excellent”. A “genuine welcome” is also part of the attraction, and – having been greeted – a well-stocked cocktail bar is another new addition that will help you recover from the schlep to get there…
Summary
“I’ve been going to this unique Indian restaurant for the last 15 years and it always hits the spot for authentic Indian food” – that’s the kind of loyalty inspired by Cyrus and Parvin Todiwala’s well-known destination, which – when it had to close mid-pandemic – received the support of a crowdfunded appeal to secure its survival. In truth, the “outdated” old building was “looking tired”, though it was buoyed up by an excellent welcome and Parsi and Goan-inspired cuisine that was regularly “exceptional”. In late 2021, a re-opening is planned in a shiny new location in the distant Royal Docks, a short walk from Gallions Reach DLR station, five minutes’ travel-time from Canary Wharf.
Summary
“Some of the best Indian food in town” – “Cyrus and Pervin Todiwala are delightful hosts” and the “dated outside” of their former City-fringe HQ “gave no clue that a meal would be so delicious”. The cuisine offers “a different take on traditional Indian” (mixing Parsi and Goan dishes with more pan-Indian inspirations) and its longstanding “authenticity” and “creativity” is a continued joy, as is the “genuinely friendly way that TV-chef Cyrus T, OBE comes out to chat with guests”. “As good as you’ll get in Mumbai… and the traffic isn’t as bad!” Now relocated to Docklands – and with a new cookery school – we're looking forward to reports on the new location.
For 33 years we've been curating reviews of the UK's most notable restaurant. In a typical year, diners submit over 50,000 reviews to create the most authoritative restaurant guide in the UK. Each year, the guide is re-written from scratch based on this survey (although for the 2021 edition, reviews are little changed from 2020 as no survey could run for that year).
Have you eaten at Café Spice Namaste?
1-2 Lower Dock Walk, Royal Dock, London, E16 2GT
Restaurant details
Café Spice Namaste Restaurant Diner Reviews
"Thankfully we were staying close to Excel otherwise the restaurant would have appeared to be hidden away - BUT we will certainly visit again, irrespective of where we stay in London. A little disappointed with the environment when we arrived but welcomed by the staff and helped with menu choices. The food was exceptional, a general descriptor of "Indian and Parsi" cannot do it justice. The chutneys were amazing, Beetroot Samosa Chaat delicious, smoked duck breast - "yum" and the Roast chicken Cafreal was to die for - who produces potatoes that taste like that!!!? And they do take aways across the country. My suitcase was a lot heavier on the way home, weighed down by a section of Mr Tadiwala's chutneys. "
"Wonderful food, Indian with a Portuguese influence!!"
Prices
 Drinks |
|
|---|---|
| Wine per bottle | £30.00 |
| Filter Coffee | £5.00 |
 Extras |
|
|---|---|
| Bread | £3.00 |
| Service | 12.50% |
1-2 Lower Dock Walk, Royal Dock, London, E16 2GT
| Number of Diners: | |
| Required Time: | |
Opening hours
| Monday | CLOSED |
| Tuesday | 5 pm‑10 pm |
| Wednesday | 1 pm‑10 pm |
| Thursday | 1 pm‑10 pm |
| Friday | 1 pm‑10 pm |
| Saturday | 1 pm‑10 pm |
| Sunday | CLOSED |
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