Finding a gentrified area off Peckham High Street is as unlikely as Sandra Bullock winning an Oscar but the perma smile Dame did it, and I found myself found this jewel, stumbling upon a delightful enclave by Warwick Gardens. In Peckham.
Ganapati is a cosy South Indian restaurant, serving Keralan inspired cuisine. The place is dressed up in bare pastel shaded walls – think Cafe Bohema, or Bonnington Cafe, or Cafe Crema in New Cross but add more light, space and NCT mums. There were just as many people enjoying an afternoon coffee as there were customers fornicating over the food, and when the golden sun streams in through the large frontage, it’s as good a place you’ll find anywhere for a smooth roast in South London.
Now as I was there for a social lunch, my choice was considerably limited by the lunchtime menu. No where to be seen was the Roast Duck Masala, the Thali served on banana leaves, or the spiced sea bass; but in their place was a fastidious choice of complete meals – Curried kingfish or chicken with rice and poppadums, dal curry with rice, spiced omelette with rice, all for around a friendly £5.50.
In keeping with it’s fresh and balanced interior, the food offered taste of sweet, sour and salty; The kingfish curry enticed me with a tamarind explosion upon entry but left a deep burn that can only be the doing of super fresh ginger and cayenne pepper. The sauce lightly enveloped the the chunky fish which considering the price, was generously portioned and accompanying rice was suitably fragrant and light.
A small dish of indian sweets was shared and provided a fragrant note upon which to end the meal; A hotchpotch of vividly coloured slices made from nuts, pulses, sweetened with milk, honey and laced with cardamom washed down with masala tea.
A great lunch which I suspect is superseded by the dinner menu.
Address
38 Holly Grove
London
SE15 5DF
www.ganapatirestaurant.com
Telephone
020 7277 2928
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