Slumdog Bar & Kitchen

Indian restaurateur and self-made millionaire Charan Gill has scored another winner with Slumdog, the hospitable and delectable new stand-alone restaurant of the hit film’s namesake.

The décor and staff are welcoming and there is ample room at the bar for a pre- or post-dinner cocktail or lassi. My partner had the recommended house beer, a light Indian brew to complement the array of flavours on offer, and I chose a mocktail, with popaddums and chutney to start. There is also an variety of reasonably-priced wines on offer, by the bottle or the glass, and the cocktail list is extensive, with fun film-themed titles.

Starters are given equal emphasis on the menu and are recommended as sharers to whet the appetite. Our waiter’s hot tip was to order our mains partway through our first course to gauge our hunger levels, which is a good tip. We sampled Bombay Bhel Puri, a vegetarian Bombay Mix salad; Gilafi Lamb Kebab, served in skewers in a metal pot kettle; Hot Ginger Chicken Wings, and our personal favourite: the Slumdog World Famous veggie Kati Roll.

After that filling first round, we both plumped for the option of snack sizes as our mains; mine was spinach-based vegetarian classic Paneer Saag; my partner chose the specialty Lamb Karahi.

With barely enough room for dessert, and all the usual suspects on offer, my partner passed on Brit favourite Sticky Toffee pudding in favour of the recommended Indian twist Sweet Roti with cinnamon, toffee and ice cream. These Kati Rolls are definitely worth trying – either sweet or savoury.

I was contented with my seemingly-limitless pot of Masala Chai Lassi which was miles more authentic than those imitation teas at cafés, served with an optional tea tray of Indian sweets and shortbread so light it could have been meringue.