Kerala Bhavan , West Croydon 

Kerala Bhavan

Every item on Kerala Bhavan’s menu is made with Indian herbs and spices that have been especially imported from India for this Croydon restaurant. Specialising in dishes from both North and South, Keral Bhavan aims to recreate Indian food as it is served in Indian homes. North Indian staples mingle with more unusual offerings like fish tikka, and south Indian specialities include rasam (a vigorously spiced and peppered soup) and parippu (Keralan green lentil) curry. Don’t miss the masala dosa – crisp, paper-thin pancakes rolled around a spicy potato mix, served with a fiery sambal on the side – or the thicker uttapam, embedded with onions, chillies and peppers. There’s a great-value set menu at lunchtime: for around £7 you get a choice of mutton, chicken, vegetable, sambar or keema curry served with rice or nan as well as and a drink. Try going back to work after that lot.