Indo-Jin (Bar, Restaurant)

All hail Navishen Mudaly, the Indian-South African chef and proprietor of Indo-Jin (Indian man in Japanese) whose tremendous fusion of Japanese homestyle and Indian cuisine has brought about one of the most deliciously innovative menus this side of London.

This minimalist styled eatery lies on Clerkenwell Road among a stretch of gourmet furniture and media outlets and is so subtle it could be taken for a designer or architect’s firm if it weren’t for the candles, simple white napkins and wooden chopsticks carefully placed on each of the handmade hardwood tables in the dimly lit room.

We are seated at one of such tables and told our menu has been hand selected by Mudaly himself. Beginning with the ever so slightly battered Chilli Squid and Pork Katsu, my friend is stunned by the squid’s tenderness and subtle flavour - clearly accustomed to the rubbery deep-fried tragedies most pubs call “calamari.”

Next we are served the Soy and Honey Sweet Potatoes – dusted with roasted sesame seeds and fried spring onions; they are a perfect side to the chunky Prawn Curry with a thick tomato and coriander sauce that comes next. As if this weren’t enough, next appears a mild, yet complimentary Ginger Broccoli and the Yuan Miso Salmon Fillet – exquisitely prepared with a sweet citrus sauce.

Inexpensive lunches of Donburi Curry (tofu, beef, or chicken) with rice and Miso soup are available during the week and Indo Jin is hireable to anyone who calls. Cosmobar, is located both next door and downstairs – adds the perfect opportunity to have a dance and drink after filling yourself with high quality eats.

Mudaly’s ten years at some of London’s hottest restaurants (Grosvenor House, Zuma) have certainly paid off. His idea to take the popular soupy curries of Hokaido, and combine them with the spices his mother used in his youth, is a total success. Zesty, sweet, hearty and subtle – the grub lives up to the claim that they are simply “good people, who care about food.”...read more