Our Review Of Chook Chook London: Authentic Eats In A Railway-Inspired Restaurant

Despite living in a borough of London that's known for having a huge number of South Asian restaurants, I'm ashamed to say that my experience in Indian cuisine is slightly lacking - being something that I didn't eat much of growing up. But, determined to make up for lost time, I changed this recently with a trip to Chook Chook in Putney, an independent Indian restaurant, where I was keen to try as many of their authentic dishes as possible.

This intimate restaurant takes its inspiration from railway journeys across India.

DesignMyNight Reviews Chook Chook Putney

It was clear that we'd made a good choice here, as the queue for a table was out of the door when we arrived. We were welcomed into the intimate restaurant by the owner, who explained the concept to us - designed like a railway carriage, Chook Chook brings you a taste of India's many regions that are accessible by train, and they had photos and paintings of the country lining the dark wooden walls. We were seated in a deep green leather booth that felt like travelling in first class, right next to the bustling 'aisle' where waiters seamlessly transported their goods to each table.

First up, we chose from their selection of signature cocktails. Mine was a lychee rose martini (£10.50), a strong blend of vodka, lychee liquor and lime juice, with a floral hint from the rose syrup, topped with pretty petals. My partner chose a Hawa Hawai (£10.50), which was basically a tropical twist on the classic sex on the beach: vodka, peach schnapps and cranberry juice mixed with mango and lime.

Sample curries and street food dishes from all over India at Chook Chook.

We were overwhelmed by the amount of choice on Chook Chook's menu, so we took our waiter's recommendations when it came to starters. First was the chilli chicken (£11.50), a fusion dish that combined tender, spicy chicken pieces and peppers with a sweet and sour flavour that was more reminiscent of Chinese cooking. This came with the Delhi papdi chaat (£7.50), a fried flour crisp that was filled with chickpeas, potato, yoghurt and mint. We were advised to put these in our mouth whole, where they exploded with a tangy combination of all the flavours at once.

By far my favourite starter was the malai broccoli (£10), lightly spiced, grilled florets that were marinated in fresh cream and cheese. This was unlike anything I had ever tried before, the first bite tasted like a roast dinner, but slowly the almost sweet spice grew in my mouth. Of course, we devoured a mixed popadam basket (£4.50) alongside these plates.

We chose two curries next, and first was a paneer butter masala (£11): soft pieces of the mild cheese that came in a rich tomato sauce. Next was the Old Delhi butter chicken (£11) - a creamy, buttery tomato gravy that was swimming with chunks of tandoori-roasted chicken. 

Each beautifully presented plate at Chook Chook comes from a different region.

The house black daal (£10) was recommended on the side, a North Indian delicacy that featured slow-cooked lentils that had been soaked overnight. We mopped up the saucy mains with a fluffy portion of pilau rice (£4.50) and a chilli garlic naan (£4.50).

Though we were pretty much full to bursting point, we had to try one of their desserts. We shared a chocolate fondant (£5), a spongy cake with an oozing, chocolate centre, served with bourbon vanilla ice cream.

Overall: Chook Chook London

This meal was a masterclass in Indian cuisine, giving me a chance to try authentic dishes from all over the country. The railway carriage concept was a unique twist on the usual dining experience, and the friendly waiters were more than happy to share their insights, despite how busy the restaurant was. If there's one dish I would particularly recommend, it's definitely the broccoli starter, and both curries were fantastic too.

For more traditional feasts, check out the best curries in London.