Chakra
Bishops Palace House, 1 Riverside Walk, Kingston upon Thames KT1 1QN
It’s Friday night and somehow the only way to satisfy your taste buds is to go for a curry. Well, if that’s the case and you’re still keeping up your healthy resolutions, there is only one place to head on any given weekend; Chakra on Kingston Riverside.
Opened around five months ago, Chakra does not look like your typical Indian restaurant. There is no flock wallpaper or an abundance of reds and crimsons; here the bar is bedecked with tiny floral fairy lights, the space is airy with a contemporary feel and the ladies loos (always a good reflection of a restaurant’s general attitude) are absolutely pristine.
As the menu explains: ‘In Indian philosophy, chakras are the centre of spiritual and healing power within the human body. When these are kept turning and working in harmony (a function of lifestyle and dietary balance), we experience a sense of bliss and wellbeing’. In other words, here you will eat freshly cooked healthy cuisine in a light atmosphere. And if you're looking for healthier options then don't worry, the menus are stuffed with vegetarian and vegan dishes.
To start we tried the Truffle Naan, light quesadilla style pancakes filled with mushroom and laced with the hint of truffle. These are light, though quite filling, but have a delicate earthy flavour, which is complemented by the accompanying fennel infused burnt garlic raita. We also chose the Avocado Ke Gole, deep-fried dumplings served with beetroot purée. ‘Deep fried avocado?’ I hear you mutter. Well, ye of little faith, they were a revelation and they must be good because restaurant manager Dev said the chef would murder him if he revealed how they were made.
For our mains, I’m afraid we got a little giddy and ended up with more dishes than we could possibly eat: Mangalorian king prawns cooked with a sauce of caramelized onion, spices and tamarind; Dal Makhani – slow roasted black lentils and kidney beans with burnt garlic, tomatoes and onions; Tadka Palak – creamed spinach with wild garlic, chilli and dill; Malai Methi Mattar Paneer – cheese with peas and fresh fenugreek (delicious) and Darjeeling tea-infused spiced chickpeas, which had quite a kick. All were vibrant, flavoursome and perfectly spiced. Fortunately, our waiter very helpfully brought us our leftovers to take home in a doggy bag and they tasted pretty great at breakfast time too.
Finally, defeated by the savoury options, we surrendered to a zingy raspberry sorbet and a brisk-ish walk home to ease our gut-busted conscience. We were full but hugely smug that everything we had consumed had felt healthy and fresh. In the end, our chakras were well and truly balanced.
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