A dark blue telephone box set in the middle of a traditional Indian restaurant is not the first thing I would envision ahead of my visit to Flora Indica, but it certainly did set the tone for what was about to come in this delightful venue which offers a variety of meals designed around specific flavours of India, with a contemporary twist.
The interior of the restaurant is an eclectic blend of textures and tones reminiscent of the botanical world. The backdrop is a display of brass distillery piping set against a metallic ornate wall, which contrasts with more neutral, wooden accents. The seating area incorporates Harris Tweed touches throughout which act as a delicate reminder of the Scottish botanists’ journey in India.
We started the evening with a few delicious small plates which seemed like a perfect way to try something new whist tucking into shared plates. Except that my choice being so delicious, I ended up fighting for every bite. The star of the night was indeed for me the Suffolk lamp chop tandoori with garam masala & yogurt mint sauce. The lamb was so juicy and rich in flavour, hitting just the right notes, without overwhelming the palate. I remember having one of those moments when something tastes so good you must put your fork down and enjoy your bite a little longer.
Moving on to the main course, and I chose the monkfish & king prawn dish with Bengali malaicurry sauce. It was delicious. The sauce had a piquant flavour that leaves you pining for more. My partner had the slow cooked duck leg on bone, with potato & coconut sauce. The duck leg on bone was an innovative presentation and the duck was tender and rich at the same time.
Flora Indica second shoot
For dessert, I went for the Shahi brioche tukda, with tandoor pineapple, pistachio crumb & saffron cream. The brioche was finely spiced, with deep nutty flavour undertones, which the waiter explained was a combination of well-balanced spices including cardamon and cloves. The nuttiness against the delicacy of the cream and fresh zinginess of the pineapple was a perfect match.
The restaurant is themed around plants & flavours of India, and this is well reflected on the menus. Sadly, we didn’t try the wine & cocktails on offer this time, but I can’t wait to try their cocktails next time I visit. Definitely an address to bookmark.
Flora-indica.com
242 Old Brompton Rd
Earls Court London SW5 0DE
