Haweli of Clapham Review

Best for: surprising and excellently executed regional dishes.

Great: mammoth-sized king prawns.

“I don’t think this is what we ordered.”

My boyfriend peered down at the selection of meats that sat in front of us: kebab-stick skewers; chicken glistening with roasted red marinades; and charcoal-black lamb nestled on a plate decorated with salad.

“Um,” I poked at what I guessed was the duck tikka, which oozed sticky juices seductively over the plate. It wasn't quite the vegetarian starter we were expecting to share, but my stomach growled appreciatively.

“What should we do? Should we send it back?” As I spoke I was already pulling the chicken from its stick with my fingers, one hand stirring the pot of subtly spiced mint and yoghurt dip that had come with our poppodums and which was so good we ordered a second round to accompany the starter.

My boyfriend had the lamb three quarters of the way to his mouth. “I dunno. Maybe you should mention it?”

The waiter caught my eye. “Is everything okay?”

It was too late. The chicken had touched my lips and something had crumbled inside me, the something that melts when I taste something that is so delicious that I’d fight to finish it. It tasted delicately of the tandoor oven, mildly and cleverly spiced, an explosion of Indian flavours that tickled each taste bud it touched.

“No, no, everything is fine here,” I said, mouth full of the duck tikka.

“I’ve just remembered! You ordered the vegetarian platter,” the waiter said, apologetic and moving towards our plates with his hands outstretched.

My boyfriend covered his plate protectively with his hands.

“No, honestly, this is lovely. We’ll eat this.”

Because, hell, if food that we didn’t order tastes this good, I should have just closed my eyes and randomly stuck my finger on the menu.

I love being surprised by food but mostly I will veer towards the reassurance of food I know and love. At an Indian restaurant I’ll gorge on vegetarian samosas and crispy and deep-fried onion bhajis. I need to be pushed kicking and screaming out of my comfort zone, but once I have, oh I revel in it.

The meal at Haweli’s was full of these same surprises. A dish of king prawn jalfrezi (that had little description on the menu) turned up spicy, hot and sour. The prawns were the size of a small baby’s fist and were tender and full of the flavours of the sea. Similarly, a sizzling dish of lamb and green chilli had hidden amongst the rest of the dishes on the well-stocked menu but impressed upon arrival, with a massive kick around the chops thanks to the spice and succulent juice.

Being pleasantly surprised by the food on offer is something I look for in a restaurant. It’s how I decide whether to go back again and again. Even if I, or the waiters, get it wrong first time and I end up with something I didn’t order on my plate, at least I know it’ll be gloriously different, exciting and, above all, delicious....read more

Claire Williams 28 Mar 2012

Haweli of Clapham Description

For multi-award winning Indian cuisine in Clapham South, why not treat yourself to a meal at Haweli of Clapham and enjoy some of the culinary delights of the menu, highly recommended by the press and previously featured on BBC television. The Chowdhury family have over 12 years of experience in restaurant management at Haweli of Belmont. Now they have expanded their successful business venture with Haweli of Clapham. The polite and well-presented waiters provide a welcoming service that helps you unwind and puts you in the perfect mood to enjoy the renowned Indian cuisine that Haweli of Clapham is known for. Everything from the freshest, highest quality ingredients to the contemporary design of the restaurants is crafted with the aim of offering their guests the very best Indian dining experience possible....read more

Customer Reviews for Haweli of Clapham

Average (based on 1 votes): 1 Atmosphere: Value: Quality:

The following customer reviews are not endorsed by Fluid London and are simply those of users who wish to publish their independent experiences of Haweli of Clapham.

“Haweli of Clapham is a delightful Indian restaurant. The staff is welcoming and the food is magnificent. The portions are substantial. I give Haweli of Clapham a thumbs up and will dine there again.”
Atmosphere: Value: Quality:
Jenny, sw11 (1 years 4 months 18 days ago)

Additional Information

• Cuisine Type: Indian
• Group: (Independent/Freehouse)