Babur
Forest Hill, London
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Founded back in 1985, Forest Hill’s beloved Babur just keeps on rolling – and it's still the go-to option for locals wanting prettily plated Indian food that’s a cut above your average high-street curry house. Over the years, it has become increasingly stylish and distinctive, with a hand-painted kalamkari horoscope in the foyer, low-hanging lights, exposed brickwork and wooden partitions holding elaborate floral displays. Meanwhile, the kitchen scours the Subcontinent for regional ideas while offering dedicated menus for those with special dietary needs. The full repertoire bypasses kormas and dhansaks in favour of more intricate, modern ideas such as swordfish tikka with radish pickle, long-marinated steamed shoulder of lamb with beetroot rice, or sea bream in Malabar coconut sauce with green beans and chickpeas. Vegetable dishes and sides are also full of promise – think spinach and sweet potato shingara pastries or baby aubergines with peanut sauce. To finish, try the black cardamom kheer (Indian rice pudding with caramelised figs and silver leaf). On Sundays, Babur’s ‘help yourself’ family buffet is something of a local institution. The wine list has been knowledgeably assembled with food in mind, but it would be remiss to ignore the zippy Asian-themed cocktails.
