Zouk

Zouk specialises in ‘apna’ – home-style cooking shot through with colour and heat from the spices and herbs. In recent years it has incorporated elements of global street food to its menu (prawn and pomegranate tacos, or butter chicken bao, for example) but the main focus is still the authentic Indian and Pakistani cooking that made Zouk a success.

Go for slow-cooked curries such as the aniseedy lamb nihari; a thrill for any meat lover. There’s an extensive grill menu offering everything from chicken shawarma to chateaubriand. Vegans and vegetarians are well catered for: try starters such as the samosa chaat or a main of chole masala (a chickpea masala). There’s also a Sunday Roast menu that includes masala lobster and sajji leg of lamb, alongside more predictable offerings.

The large, purpose-built space and tasteful lighting lends an unexpected nobility to this always-busy restaurant. A spacious covered terrace makes alfresco dining a warm and dry option. You can also relax out there with a hookah pipe, if the mood takes you.