Asha's re-opens

Following a major refurbishment, world renowned Indian restaurant Asha's opened it's doors again recently and we were asked to drop by and checkout the new look, aswell as some new dishes.

Framed by bold Indian design, we entered Asha’s, on the eve of the 75th anniversary of India’s Independence. Honoured with a traditional bindi welcome, before being whisked upstairs via a petal laden staircase into a beautiful modern restaurant. 

The Asha’s chain of restaurants was developed by the famous Indian artist Asha Bhosle. Though known for her magnificent voice, it’s her photography that greets you, and her passion for music and food that collide to create the Asha’s indulgent experience.

After we were shown to our table, our classic dining experience began. First with crispy poppadoms served with a selection of classic sauces, and my favourite fragrant mango chutney. As a starter we sampled the mixed samosas - which weren’t so typical. Fine pastries rolled a little thicker, crisp pyramids filled with aromatic meat and vegetables. 

The servers were delightfully attentive, and aware of the dietary requirements of our party, made sure every dish we ordered had both a dairy and non-dairy option. The main dishes and rice were well we loved by us all - the highlight had to be the Rogan Josh, served with fluffy jasmine rice, and fresh roti.

All the food was spectacular, the size of the portions was generous. We can highly recommend ensuring you take some home in a doggie bag, because you’ll want to share more later!  

Options for dessert feature both traditional sweets and more modern dishes too. For our next visit we have our eyes on the Golden Sticky Toffee pudding. Designed by Ewelina the Restaurant Manager, it’s a fusion of spices with a classic English dessert.

On this occasion we opted for the vegan chocolate ice cream – rich and indulgent, topped with seasonal fresh fruit. From the traditional dishes, we picked Gulab Jamun and Rasmalai. The former, fragrant and sticky, yet fluffy and light on the inside, whilst the Rasmalai was creamy and delicately flavoured.

We thoroughly enjoyed our meal, bursting with Indian flavours, it’s a great place for a special occasion, romantic dinner, or just because. There’s a reason this restaurant is listed in both the Michelin Guide, and sits high in The Times top 30 Indian restaurants in the UK. 

James Richardson for Canal St Media

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Published: 18-Aug-2022 (6786)