Lahore Kebab House

After an evening of post-work drinking in the City, the stomach was yearning for something to dilute and digest all the alcohol sitting in an otherwise empty cavity. At this point, the kitchens of most nearby restaurants have closed, giving way to late-night dining, fast food, and kebab shops to stave off the next morning's hangover. But where to go from the bars and fancy restaurants dotting the financial center? It was time to travel outwards for something more gratifying. Time for late night curry.

Away from the well-known Brick Lane famous for being paved with curry houses is Lahore Kebab House in Whitechapel offering authentic Pakistani cuisine. Off Commercial Road on a small street, the no-frills restaurant gets to the point with its food with wiped down tables and only Bollywood films offering extra color on the walls. Upon entry, a server immediately opened his arm as guidance towards the ground floor dining area was open and took pick any table suitable. You pass glass windows opening up the large kitchen so you can peep inside to view the culinary action. Even late at night, most of the tables are full of people and more arriving honoring the BYOB policy with bottles from the off license next door. Excellent option as the restaurant is open until 1:00am.

The menu is vast and simple, emphasizing the curry side of Pakistani and Indian-influenced cuisine. Vegetarians would be delighted to see the large selection for mains. The server was helpful on clarifying some unknown items on the menu and attentive to ensure that all was correctly ordered. All the food came out quickly and in large portions as if it was just scooped out of the carefully tended to vats marinating throughout the course of the day.



After work drinking on a relatively empty stomach means hungry eyes matching the desire to sample everything within strict budgetary reason and current stomach capacity of a party of two. The seemlingly requisite starter is the grilled lamb chops served on the bone. Juicy and succulent, you can see the spices rubbed into the chops from the next table over. Mains ordered were sag paneer (spinach with cheese) and Lahore Kebab House Special chicken curry on the bone accompanied by an order of pilau rice, tandoori roti and tandoori paratha as well as an order of mango lassi. Both the mains were spicy enough to make you sweat and little sips of lassi prevented your mouth from converting into a Bollywood inferno. The chicken was tender and juicy on the bone with the rice soaking up the curry well. The sag paneer was solid enough to pinch with pieces of bread and the pieces of cheese were not rubbery at all. Thankfully, the paratha was not too greasy from ghee, but had to be eaten while still warm to avoid tasting the texture of cooled fat in your mouth. Going back and forth between the meat and vegetarian dishes kept the mouth adequately stimulated, as if the heat was not stimulating enough itself. However, if you are sensitive to spicy foods or want a little bit more oomph in your curry, the level of spiciness can be adjusted according to taste by request to the server.

If you are willing enough to venture outside Banga-driven Brick Lane, Lahore Kebab House is recommended by Pakistani and Indians alike. It is also a great venue for a delicious curry night with a bunch of friends and BYO beverages.

Lahore Kebab House. 2-10 Umberston Street. London E1 1PY. United Kingdom. www.lahore-kebabhouse.com