Indian Room

£11 - £25 / Indian, Vegetarian options

59 Bedford Hill, London

Awards

Excellent Naan 2024

Opening hours

4:30PM-11:30PM

Sunday 12:45PM-11:15PM
Monday 4:30PM-11:30PM
Tuesday 4:30PM-11:30PM
Wednesday 4:30PM-11:30PM
Thursday 4:30PM-11:30PM
Friday 4:30PM-11:45PM
Saturday 12:45PM-11:45PM

London's Premier Indian Dining Experience

Nestled in the bustling nook that is Balham, Indian Room unabashedly proclaims itself as the crowned gem of South London dining. Cloaked in the patina of recognitions long collected from scores of its enthusiastic patrons, it prides itself on offering not just a meal but an evangelical foray into the realm of Indian cuisine. When nestling into one of its snug alcoves, one's culinary curiosity is amply rewarded with a menu brimming with delights that ride across the fragrance spectrum from tantalising samosas to indulgent butter chicken. The enigmatic Aravind, with notable mention throughout the reviews, seems almost to float about the room, peppering tastings with the kind of immersive service one must only assume has something to do with his grandmother's Ayurvedic concoctions.

With merriment seemingly bubbling from the riotous throngs contained within its walls – perhaps augmented by the playful repartee of the staff or the generous solaces of limoncello shots – Indian Room appears inviting despite occasional discordant service encounters mentioned by some customers. A sense of joyous chaos pervades the air — a jabber of stories over naan that could narrate the novel that is my current reviewer existence. Even with the odd demur alongside glorified Transatlantic accolades lavished upon it by those traipsing in from across the pond, this establishment excels most not in exclusivity but in the dependable recount of happy clientele moments. One leaves, not merely hoping to return, but plotting when they can once again fall into Balham’s vibrant embrace, accompanied by one particularly burlap bag of curry secrets. — Penelope Savory