Amazing place ,great food and service ,fulfilled all my needs. In London for my holidays , the staff was very friendly generous and courteous. We were provided with excellent service. We ate paneer and chicken. Amazing food and great chef. The bartender also brewed us amazing drinks. Liquor for me and my husband and electric lemonade for my son. The music was also soothing. Everything for an amazing experience.#foodieforlife #lovecoriander #lovelondon #bestholiday

On a sunny Thursday evening I took a little voyage of discovery on the orange overground line to Coriander restaurant (and Hatch End) which culminated in a most delicious Indian fine dining experience. Coriander is a lovely welcoming restaurant and it is clear a lot of thought, passion and dedication has gone into making Coriander a success. Coriander's founders have over five decades of experience evidenced by the traditional menu of classics with an added contemporary twist. Expectation was running high as Coriander has won Restaurant of the Year previously at the Asian Curry Awards and they did not disappoint.

First things first, I always like to test out the crunch of the poppadoms; these ones were fresh, warm and most importantly crunchy. Served with the usual mix of chutneys, I was already happy. Coriander, however, take it that one step further and also serve homemade tamarind and chili sauce as an accompaniment. Both of these sauces are frankly outstanding and it is a shame that they are not for sale individually after your meal. The tamarind sauce is fresh, smooth and inviting. In terms of the chili sauce, there is a plethora of words to describe it including smooth, deep, velvety, smoky, aromatic. Do note the delayed 'after-kick' which although not for the faint hearted when it comes to spiciness levels I found delicious.

It is the impressive presentation as well as the quality of the food which elevates Coriander. Our starters were served on black slate which added drama and intrigue to the dishes. We ordered tandoori lamb chops, onion bhajee, shingara (pastry filled with spicy veg), scallops and fish tikka. Standouts were the fish tikka; light perfectly cooked fish which flaked when touched. Delicate with crispy skin; the spices were not in the least overpowering to the fish but an excellent compliment. Similarly, the scallops were also delicate having been powdered with spice before then being cooked with other herbs. Both of these dishes with the inclusion of the tandoori lamb chops I would order again without hesitation.

We almost committed too early to the delights of the extremely appetising starters and not left enough space for the main course. However, space was duly made after strong recommendations from the Coriander team. Reshmi Lamb - slightly chargrilled lamb robustly spiced and fairly hot, Shasi Chicken - cooked with tamarind sauce, Khulna King Prawns - king prawns delicately spiced with herbs and an accompanying thick sauce. Garlic and Peshwari naan and Sag Paneer were ordered and completed our second course. Dishes sizzled to the table and we attempted to clear our warm plates but the richness and generous portions sizes meant we were somewhat defeated. The lamb was tender, the chicken succulent and the prawns juicy. The naans were light and fluffy, the garlic naan had added chili laced through to add even more taste. We thoroughly enjoyed our meal and although eventually defeated it was so delicious we asked for takeaway containers. Although I live half way across London from Coriander and Hatch End, I was more than happy to carry the delights of Coriander with me all the way home to be sampled again in the comfort of my own home!