If I was going to do one last review before lockdown, it better be good. With its diverse menu of Punjabi cuisine, hype from national newspapers and a menu from MasterChef: The Professionals 2019 semi-finalist Arbinder Duggal, Attawa seemed like a strong choice for going out in style. We headed over to the Kingsland Road restaurant ahead of it temporarily closing and stuffed our faces with one heck of a final feast...

Attawa is serving mouthwatering Indian dishes from its home in Dalston. 

There was definitely an East London coolness to Attawa. Not only is the restaurant in the oh-so trendy area of Dalston, but the decor had sleek date night vibes to it, with indoor foliage, dimmed lighting and dark furnishings. The clientele was made up of 20-somethings (from the same household of course) with a soothing soundtrack of chilled out tunes flowing out the speakers. 

After taking to our seats, it was time for a cocktail. The cardamom blush (£8) felt a smooth way to kick things off with its combination of gin, cardamom-infused rose, bitters and rose water. As for the starters? We had to try the khatte ladoo (£6.50). The fried lentil dumplings came with relish, carrots and topped with pani, they were beautifully delicate and crisp with a slight crunchiness and subtle spice. Meanwhile, the gol guppas (£5.50), which was diced potato with quinoa and pani, tasted richer and creamy while staying surprisingly light. 

Get your fix of high-end Indian food and this cool East London restaurant. 

When it came to our mains, we opted for tarka dhaal topped with kale pakora (£8), which had a deep flavour and totally avoided any oiliness that is so often acquainted with this particular dish. We were also tempted by the North Indian favourite, pindhi chole (£8.50), a slow-cooked chickpea served in an aromatic tomato sauce with a sprinkle of fresh red onion and coriander which added a fresh kick.

Served with buttery paratha (£3.50) and fluffy pilau (£5) rice, this was a fantastic feast made even better when paired with their sweet and orangey take on a classic old fashioned (£8). For dessert? A cocktail of course. The chai martini (£8) was a unique take on its coffee-based counterpart with chai, star anise and almond milk.

We chomped away on buttery chickpea curry with paratha and pilau rice. 

The DesignMyNight Digest 

Knowing its menu had been created by MasterChef semi-finalist Arbinder Duggal, I felt like Attawa was going to be good. With its cool vibe, stunning cocktails and light yet filling menu of Punjabi classics, it completely surpassed expectations. A fabulous way to wrap up the final week before lockdown if you ask me. 

Looking for London's best Indian restaurants? You can find them here.