Review on Cafe Spice Namaste
For more than a decade, Cyrus Todiwala MBE has been the driving force at Whitechapel's Cafe Spice Namaste and he continues to deliver authentically, subtly spiced food with lots of modern influences and a loyalty to his native Parsee tradition.
The long menu reads well and it's surprising to see British regional ingredients appearing in lots of different guises. South Indian-style samosas are filled with Cheltenham beetroot and coconut, Suffolk wild boar chipolatas are cooked in vindaloo masala to produce 'guizzado de chorise javali', while marinated Scottish Longhorn beef is subjected to the tikka treatment. Fish is also handled with bags of imagination, witness Loch Fyne scallops in Goan balchao pickling spices with dry-roasted shrimps or pomfret stuffed with green coconut chutney and steamed in banana leaves.
Side orders include regional dhals and unusual Pan-Asian combos such as bamboo shoot, enoki mushroom and chickpea xacutti, and desserts are also worth investigating: try the Parsee apricot toffee ice cream or steamed 'lagan nu' custard flavoured with rose extract. Wines have been chosen to complement the food.
Cafe Spice Namaste is also featured in: Michelin Guide, Good Food Guide, Hardens, AA Guide
Rate this RestaurantCuisine
Indian
Chef
Cyrus Todiwala and Angelo Collaco
Restaurant Opening Times
Lunch: 12.00pm - 3.00pm Mon-Fri
Dinner: 6.15pm - 10.30pm Mon-Fri (6.30 - 10.30pm Sat)
Accepted credit cards
Visa, Master Card, American Express