Ahmed's Indian Cuisine

Ahmed's Legacy: Passion Meets New Tastes

Visiting Ahmed's Indian Cuisine was a journey through the highs and lows of culinary delight. The moment you step through the door, you're met with a warm breeze of spices wafting from the kitchen, laying out a hopeful promise of a feast. And, to be fair, this place delivers in spades when it comes to providing those deep, comforting flavours that you crave from an Indian eatery. The friendly, buzzing staff help slide you right into your seat with smiles broader than a buttered naan. I kicked things off with some properly crispy onion bhajis and vegetable samosas – the heroes of any Indian table setting. My main, the butter chicken, was spectacularly tender and swimming in a luscious, velvety sauce rich with spices that playfully tickled the palate.

But don't dance away just yet. For those waxing nostalgic for the old Ahmed family's intimate squeeze and their no-nonsense servings, there might be shadows casting over this rosy feedback. The restaurant, post its changing of hands, seems to be going through growing pains—experimental menu additions like burgers and pastas raised more eyebrows than satisfied bellies. Moreover, portions could be heftier and, occasionally, dishes did try to sneak past slightly lukewarm. More surprising was the nosedive some evenings take due to occasional lack of detail—a missing decaf coffee offering or a cheeky prompt for tips sans service charge are grist for the storytelling mill. But trust me, catch the kitchen on fire—and it frequently is—and you'll find yourself adding Ahmed's to your list of reliable standbys around Wimbledon. Now, if they'd just sort that liquor license, perhaps the cocktails could flow as freely as their smile-laden greetings. — Milo Tastemaker