Islington’s post-covid curry phenomenon Tamil Prince has opened its first offshoot in South London with the launch this week of Tamila in Clapham.

The restaurant has taken over the former site of VE Kitchen in Northcote Road – the main drag of thriving ‘Nappy Valley’, south of Clapham Junction station.

Tamila brings back the name of the first venue launched in Hackney Wick by founders chef Prince Durairaj and manager Glen Leeson, who had previously worked together at Roti King.

The Tamil Prince, in a former Barnsbury pub, was one of the most talked-about openings of 2022 and is hailed as “truly brilliant” in the Harden’s guide. Demand was so great that the duo opened a second venue, the Tamil Crown, in another pub closer to Angel last year.

The menu focuses on flaky roots and Tamil specialities from south India, including curries, dosas and masala poori, plus assorted nans from the tandoor. They are washed down by a house Tamila lager or Indian-spiced cocktails.