James's reviews
Review of Samrat
14 May 08, 11:25
Old school currry house with great service & food 
I'm ashamed to say that although this is the closest Indian restauant to my house I've only just visited after 4 years of living in Tooting. That's 4 years of great curries missed!
Thankfully now I've discovered this gem of a place and can start making up for lost time.
This is what I'd call an 'old school' curry house. It has Taj Mahal etched glass inside, a small well-stocked bar with decorative minarets above and a tastefully decorated waiting area near the front for take away orders.
The tables are neat and fairly private as each is it's own booth although you still get a sense of atmosphere when the restaurant is busy. The staff are smart, friendly and attentive and best of all the food is superb. I have been to most of the Indian restaurants in the Tooting area and with the possible exception of Mirch Masala Samrat is certainly the best.
My only gripe is the price of the drinks - £1.95 for a half pint of lager seems a bit steep. However, I have no other complaints and that is not enough to tarnish a 5 star review.
I get the feeling Samrat has been around for many years and if the levels of service and quality of food are maintained it deserves to be around for a lot longer. Keep up the good work.
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Review of Chatkhara
02 May 08, 14:28
Great value curries and kebab rolls late at night 
Ok, so there are a million and one curry houses along the Upper Tooting Road and I won't claim to have visited them all but I have remained loyal to Chatkhara's for a good few years due to the consistent quality food and bargain prices. Plus the place never seems to close! I've popped in at 4am before on my way home from a night out and been happy to find the food as fresh and tasty as always.
The clean & functional eating area has about half a dozen tables for eating in although most customers drop by for a take away.
Highly recommended and hugely popular are the chicken tikka rolls - just right after a few pints. Their curries are also tasty - try a chicken balti or a lamb bhuna. Naan bread is cooked to order in the tandoor oven and they serve all the usuual sundries like bhajis and samosas.
If you're near Tooting Bec feeling a bit peckish and want a quick authentic bite to eat then I thoroughly recommend Chatkhara's.
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