Several trips ago, I spotted Masala Zone in the Earl’s Court area of London. It was a chain of Indian restaurants that had a decidedly contemporary decor that set it apart from so many other Indian restaurants located all over the city. It served Indian Thali dishes presented on stainless steel platters with a variety of curries, small bowls of vegetables, grains, and condiments. The fact that this is the way Indian people usually eat with less meat and more vegetables was intriguing, as I had never seen it offered in a restaurant before. Masala Zone also specialized in street food, regional curries, and grilled meats. That set it apart from the competition as well.
Although the Thali and street food were their specialties, the menu crossed the continent with dishes from various areas of India. The menu included what I perceive as standards of Indian cuisine: Chicken Korma, Lamb Vindaloo, Roghan Josh, various Biryani dishes, and Chicken Tikka Masala. There were samosas and items I have seen less often, for example, Malai and Goan dishes.
Since I generally have few opportunities to eat specialties from Goa, my first selection was the Goan Crispy Prawns. The batter was indeed crispy and they arrived with a very spicy aioli and a cool crisp salad to refresh the palate.
Even without a first course, the Thali would have provided more than enough food for lunch. It was a mix and match affair and my selection of sides included potatoes, a winter squash curry, and dal. Papadum, a cilantro based sauce and mango chutney were included with the meal as was pilau rice. Lamb Rogan Josh was my selection for the meat curry with its spicy heat being a perfect choice for a cold, damp afternoon.
Masala Zone Website
| 147 Earls Court Road W8 | |
| London SW5 9RQ | |
| +44 20 7373 0220 U. K. |
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