Last week I went to an amazing restaurant in Croydon… (Some would say London, others would say Surrey). Khyber is a fine dining Indian restaurant with an incredibly modern twist. The food and service really was outstanding and as Croydon is such a busy shopping district this is the perfect place to relax and fill your belly after a hard day shopping. It’s always a chance trying a new restaurant. The thought of choosing a bad one is so horrid that usually people go on recommendations. Well, I recommend Khyber with out a doubt.
The chilled out ambiance is lovely for either a romantic meal or a girly get together. I went with my boyfriend (Mr C for blog purposes) but I would definitely go back with some of my girls for an evening filled with good wine, good food and laughter. Situated at a beautiful table next to a mirrored wall the menu looked so great that it took me a while to choose. They had something for everyone and have a Vegan and Vegetarian menu too.
Poppadoms & Tasty Chutney Dips
As per standard in any good Indian restaurant we were given poppadoms and a trio of fresh dips and chutneys which were the perfect start to the meal. The freshness of everything was apparent from the very first snap of poppadom.
Tiger Prawn Puree
For starters I had the Tiger Prawn Puree. The tiger prawns were absolutely stunning. I mean, mouth-watering. The light masala that came with it was tasty and just perfectly seasoned and the puffed bread made the dish. Even now it makes my mouth water. This has to be the highlight of my entire meal.
Chicken & Lamb Tikka, Venison Chapali & Duck Somosa.
Mr C had a meat platter (trust him!) which consisted of chicken and lamb tikka, venison chapali and a duck somosa. He did share a little with my but the meat was tender and tasty. There was a perfect amount on the plate and presentation as you can see it’s pretty special. The effort and detail at Khyber really makes it a great place to be dining.
Hyderabadi Goat Biryani
We both had the same for the main. Hyderabadi Goat Biryani. I absolutely love goat. I am a fan of the Caribbean style curry goat and when it’s cooked well with seasoning it’s a massive rival to lamb. This dish consisted of Layers of boneless goat meat and basmati rice infused with mint and spices cooked together in a sealed pot served with Dal Makhani. No bones! Hooray!
Layers of boneless goat meat and basmati rice infused with mint and spices
cooked together in a sealed pot served with dal makhani.
The portion was incredibly big (we could have shared but no way would my boyfriend have given up his meat!). The goat was so tender and the entire dish was seasoned perfectly. It was served in a sealed pot which I really like so I can dish up my own amount. I have never had Dal Makhani before but it was gorgeous. The equivalent of gravy to a roast beef dinner, this lentil and bean rich sauce worked great with the rice and was a lovely side dish.
The perfect Sag Aloo
We also had Sag Aloo. The potatoes were not overdone by the spinach and were still warm with the garlic just coming through. All the food came together meaning nothing went cold and it was exceedingly fresh. The portions were so generous that we didn’t have enough space for dessert!
Finished!
Thinking back over the meal is making my mouth water. The food was perfect. It tasted like home cooked wholesome food but came served like the A La Carte menu it is. All the food had a unique flavour and the presentation was great. The service was beyond compare. We wasn’t hounded but we were indeed looked after. The service was polite, humorous and flawless.
Keep Calm & Curry On – The welcome sign.
A few bits of information that may be helpful. There is lots of cheap parking nearby and it’s close enough to all the transport links in central Croydon. They are open for lunch and dinner, plus they are open on Sundays. If you happen to live relatively close you can order a delivery or make an order to collect here. You can book a table online via their website and you can keep up to date with Khyber on Twitter and Facebook. I told you they are contemporary!
Picture Credit – Khyber Restaurant – Inside
If you are looking for modern and impressive restaurant with amazing food at affordable prices this is perfect. It’s a I couldn’t ask for more from a restaurant and I will definitely be back.
Khyber Restaurant – Address: 284-288 High St, Croydon, Surrey CR0 1NG – Phone:020 8681 6565
