Restaurant review

LAHORI MASALA
159 Commercial Street
London
E1 6BJ

0207 650 7770/0207 650 7744.

www.lahorimasala.com

THERE is a new kid on the block in east London looking to go toe-to-toe with the established restaurants.

And the first impressions are that Lahori Masala has more than enough in its locker to challenge the heavyweights in nearby Brick Lane.

Firstly, the Pakistani restaurant boasts an impressive venue with a gigantic dining room.  It appears like a wedding hall with rows and rows of tables. There is an actual banqueting hall downstairs, so it seats a total of 700.

Secondly, the prices are reasonable which is handy in these economic times. Most of them starters are £3, the specials are £8, while the chicken and lamb dishes cost £7.

And you certainly get your money's worth with its simple menu with a focus on quality. Since variety is the spice of life, we went for the starters of Tandoori Chicken Wings, Lamb Grilled Chops, and Paneer Tikka.

 The wings were piping hot and had that zingy taste, while the succulent chops were equally impressive. But the best of the bunch was the Paneer, another piping hot dish which had a creamy taste. It is sure to help stave off the cold and leave you wanting more.

The feast continued as we went for the main courses of Grilled Chanda, Lamb Bhuna, and Lamb Balti. The Grilled Chanda is a silver pomfret fish slapped across a plate and surrounded by herbs and spices. It is a treat for seafood lovers and is bursting with flavours. Although you have to look out for the bones, this particular offering was not as messy as the dish in other restaurants.

The Lamb Balti also hit the spot as the soft chunks of lamb were complemented well by the herbs and spices. But the pick of the main courses was the Lamb Bhuna on the bone. This dish goes beautifully with flavoured rice or Keema Naan.

The desserts were also special, in particular the chocolate and vanilla ice-cream with hints of coffee and caramel. It capped off an enjoyable evening and sparked thoughts about when to make another visit.

* Coupon: Present a printout of this review to get 30% off your meal at Lahori Masala (Desserts and drinks not included). Valid until March 31st.