Tooting: Indian or Sri Lankan restaurants

[Jenny Sheridan]

Now that Kastoori has gone, alas, where would people recommend in the area?

[deansa]

For a more Punjabi menu, I've found Mirch Masala to be very reliably good. I normally get the karahi gosht.

[JFores]

Are you willing to go a bit further down to West Croydon? The scene there is hard to beat short of East Ham (and TBH I think West Croydon has that area topped on variety.)

[Jenny Sheridan]

I acknowledge the beauties of West Croydon but even those don't tempt me so far from home (I live in Battersea and am looking for somewhere to nip out to for a quick but delicious supper).

[JFores]

Mmm. There's always Chennai Dosa in Tooting then. I need to get out there as my last trip to Tooting was only to change buses on the way back from Sutton. That stretch has so many Sri Lankan places these days, but they all look very similar and they tend to have the dosa oriented "South Indian" style menu that appeals to Gujjus and Punjabis who want to eat out. The most overtly Sri Lankan menus I've seen have all been in West Croydon.

[Lord Brazing]

Hello Justin. Is Chennai Dosa the place opposite Tooting Broadway station? I've always meant to go there, I live just up the road from Tooting. Any recommendations? By the way, I notice that changes seem to have occurred at Thattukada; any idea what's afoot there?

[JFores]

What sort of changes? I've been eating there every day this week (meal plan I arranged.) The kitchen staff is basically the same, but they've hired two new female waitresses. Prices have gone up slightly, but quality seems to be the same (though I'm judging this purely from mussel fry, biriyani and the thalis as I'm only able to eat the latter two on my meal plan.)

They're looking to buy out the storefront next door and they're opening a Stratford branch though.

[JFores]

I actually have no idea as I haven't been around there in ages. You could just toss it into Google, though. Chennai Dosa has a bunch of branches, but the quality varies heavily from branch to branch (think Kebabish.) I remember getting an above average dosa from them the second to last time I was in Tooting, but that's all I've had there.

[helen b]

Which Croydon ones would you recommend?

[JFores]

Taste of Kerala is the second best Keralan place I've ever eaten at. Aswathi on the Mitcham Rd is unfortunately ALWAYS closed. Hell, I even called them and arranged a time they'd be open once. They were closed when I got there. There's a very good Tamil veg place just off the London Rd, but I can't remember the name of it. I'll try to find it as I seem to have deleted the entry on my phone note pad, but I can almost guarantee that if you ask one of the staff members in a Tamil mithai shop on the road they'll point you towards that restaurant. London Rd's Chennai Dosa is also very good.

[helen b]

Thabk you :)

[Paprikaboy]

JF,

Have you eaten at the East Ham branch of Chennai Dosa?
I tried the chicken khottu there but wasn't particularly impressed.
I was wondering if he Croydon branch was better as it's closer to where I live.