PARADISE BIRYANI POINTE

Most Authentic Biryani Experience in London

Ah, the charms of Bexley, a locale where culinary discovery isn’t exactly a term you’d throw around with abandon. Nestled discreetly off the high street, this little gem – let’s call it an ode to Hyderabad – does its level best to deliver that culinary greatness much spoken of in the whispered secrets of Indian cuisine aficionados. Did I leave with a tingling satisfaction or simmering discontent? We’ll get to that, but at first blush, the air on entry is indeed thick with promise: delicate hints of saffron and cumin flirting as giddily as teenagers let loose.

While controversies brew over flavours and finer details like salt content and spiciness – affairs best testified by the more vocally jaded patrons among us – one can’t help but appreciate the frequently sung praises for their brill chicken dum biryani. A dish worth all the calorie regret, simultaneously powerful and distinctly reminiscent of proper Hyderabadi flair. Portions come generously, aligning ever so graciously with budgetary constraints set by the thrifty diners among us (my inclinations included). The service, executed by a team warmer than the English sun, sees to it that visitors leave merrier than when they came – or at least until oil finds untimely sanctuary on one's attire. In Bexley’s dining chapter, this spot emerges an indelible bookmark, unlikely to be forgotten soon by locals and wanderers alike. — Penelope Savory