Handi cafe away from the Brick Lane bustle

Review by: Ravenous Rosie

NOT hungry enough for a three-course meal but needing a filling snack, I was in a quandary about where and what to eat.

I had just been to Spitalfields with my colleague to cover the launch of Alternative Fashion Week and was feeling peckish after watching more than a dozen catwalk shows.

My colleague suggested the Meraz Café on Hanbury Street. Tucked away from the hustle and bustle of Brick Lane’s curry houses, the café was a tranquil spot where you could recharge your batteries.

The décor is unfussy, the walls painted a bright red with simple black and white photographs adorning the walls.

I was glad to have a seat after having to stand to watch the fashion shows. The menu was simply laid out and not crammed with dishes. The café serves a variety of Indian and vegetarian dishes with a daily specials list boasting brain masala, korma and meat biryani.

The café specialises in handi-cooked dishes. This method uses a heavy-bottomed pan and has been refined over time. Handi cooking ensures the juices and aroma are retained in the food and the dish is never over spiced.

Having a quick scan of the menu I opted for a kebab wrap and tandoori lamb chops. My colleague chose aloo shami and the special of the day, chicken jalfrezi.

The tandoori chops were the first dish to grace our table quickly followed by the aloo shami. The chops looked slightly overcooked and dry but to my surprise tasted succulent. The aloo shami was accompanied with a spicy sauce and very tasty.

The kebab wrap was rather greasy and I would have preferred a chapatti wrap rather than a paratha.

My colleague was served a giant plate of rice, side salad and bowl of curry for his special. The chicken was quite spicy but very fragrant and juicy. The food was extremely good value as the bill came to £13.15 plus two cokes.

Meraz Café operates as a cafe in the day and a restaurant in the evening.

Meraz Café is at 56 Hanbury Street, E1. Tel. 7247 6999.