The Clifton

Indian Food

06 May 08, 15:24 As expected

In this restaurant we followed our waiter’s recommendation, we had Chicken Tofa, a Goan dish of roasted chicken in a vibrant green sauce. No food colouring in this dish though; the sauce comprises a range of green spices including fresh mint, coriander, green chilli, tamarind and green peppers. Food is good and staff very friendly.

A good little Indian among Brick Lane cowboys

16 Sep 07, 16:11 As expected

My daughter and I were in the mood for a quick curry on our way home from the area yesterday. Our choices were, to say the least, wide and full of coercion all up and down the length of Brick Lane, so we plumped for The Clifton – one of the very few places where no-one accosted us with: “Table for two, you lovely ladies!”

The restaurant’s location, on the axis of Whitechapel Road and Brick Lane, gives it a distinctive vantage point for wandering diners. Even before entering its glass portal (the whole facade seems to be an expanse of glass), I noticed the neatly laid tables with folded linen napkins, discreet posied vases and four tables of diners tucking in – all of which, to my mind, hold a portent that I'm about to be adequately cared for in my restaurant experience.

Skimming past the usual meaty tandooris and tikka masalas and even an ever-so-tempting Bangladeshi fish curry spiced with chilli, garlic and coriander, I chose lamb xacuti (a Goan speciality where the meat is marinated in tamarind, ginger and chilli then braised with onions and roasted cumin seeds) accompanied by pilau rice and an undressed cucumber and tomato salad. My not-normally-adventurous daughter opted for a vegetable biryani (the rice appeared chockfull of mushrooms, peas, cauliflower florets and sliced green beans) and, to my motherly surprise, polished off the lot without complaint or grimace. As is our wont, we dolloped mango chutney, lime pickle, red pepper pickle and fresh cucumber raita onto our plates with sheer abandon.

The atmospheric music made us smile at one another as, at times, some strains sounded as though they would be better themed with an Indian film of love and torture.

Never one to resist gulab jamun (best described as a more sickly sweet Indian version of a Wimpy’s Brown Derby doughnut), there was no way I was going to leave before I tucked into some.

Sticking to bottled sparkling water throughout because we both don’t actually like beer – the staple tipple most seem to see as a given with curry, the bill came to a satisfying £26.30 which I unhesitatingly rounded up to tip the efficient but discreet service we’d enjoyed.