Gunpowder Spitalfields

The days of drinking lager and eating poppadums at Indian restaurants with a fish tank, velvet-lined chairs, and just one After Eight for dessert are long gone in London. However, the Brick Lane neighborhood, which is dominated by curry mile's imitation canteens, is still difficult to navigate. Nirmal Save, a former chef at Mayfair's Tamarind, is in charge of the kitchen at this little family-run establishment, which hopes to break Indian cuisine's odd hold on the neighborhood by introducing high-quality small-plate dining.

In favor of strong flavors and a menu of about 20 dishes from all over India, Gunpowder forgoes bloating breads and creamy sauces. Examples include rasam ke bomb, Gunpowder's take on the dosa, which resembles tiny Yorkshire puddings and comes with a shot glass of a spicy sauce, or a spicy venison and vermicelli doughnut, both of which are novel and exciting. The vegetables are the stars of the show, especially the surprise and delightful sizzle-grilled mustard broccoli.

The Gunpower's owner-manager, Harneet Baweja, is a powerhouse who gives each dish a backstory. For example, the mouthwatering Maa's Kashmiri lamp chops are made with a recipe from his mother-in-law, and the molten spice chocolate cake with masala chai custard (don't skip it!) was inspired by a Mumbai vendor of chocolate chai. There is a takeout menu option at this restaurant.

Address: 11 White's Row, London E1 7NF, United Kingdom
Phone: +44 20 7426 0542
Opening hours: 12–3PM, 5:30–10PM
Service options: Dine-in · Takeaway · Delivery
Rating: 4.4/5.0, 879 Google reviews
Website: https://gunpowderrestaurants.com/