Fine Indian dining at Heritage

BY PALOMA LACY

Restaurant openings take a long time to plan so I dare say that Heritage expected to be fully operational by the time it opened a few weeks ago.

What has actually transpired is a collection and delivery service because we’re in lockdown once again, with no in-dining allowed until mid-May.

Executive chef and proprietor, Dayashankar Sharma’s team has adapted exceptionally well to this unexpected business model, Heritage Home Dining.

Chef was probably a bit worried that he wouldn’t be able to offer the same standard of food to at-home diners as he would to dine-in customers but thankfully, this isn’t the case.

There was a lot riding on his reputation, Heritage offers Indian fine dining and it’s all down to chef and a CV that reads like the stuff of culinary dreams.

He counts 30 years’ cooking experience at the likes of big hitter Michelin-starred restaurants, Tamarind and Zaika.

For those unfamiliar with these names, they are swanky, special occasion central London restaurants, where even the merest whiff of a poppadom leaves the diner giddy.

These places bring us some of the capital’s best Indian food but this comes with a hefty price tag.

Heritage gives the diner the same experience but you’ll be left with spare change. Don’t get me wrong, you’ll spend a little more than at your local curry house but it will be well worth it.

In short: Heritage has raised the bar and its existence is fabulous news for anyone living within a three-mile radius of the restaurant because that’s the delivery range.

No longer, will South Londoners have to trek into town for a fine dining fix – it’s now on our doorstep.

Putting a contemporary spin on traditionally grounded recipes, Heritage Home Dining brings nostalgic family-taught dishes and unusual foods from lesser-known Indian regions.

The creative menu showcases vibrant and interesting flavour combinations, continually redefining Indian cuisine, while keeping faithful to recipes passed down through the generations.

The menu offers a range of sharing boxes for two. My family tried Heritage Grill menu (£42) because we wanted to go for healthier dishes.

It includes Chicken Malai Tikka and Lucknowi Murgh Kebab, both were nicely seasoned and delicately spiced which made them suitable for the whole family. It came served with pilau rice, Dhal Makhani, chargrilled paneer, naan, paratha, a salad and a range of chutneys and dips – every dish delivered hugely on the flavour front.

It made one family very happy indeed – four of us to be precise, making it good value for money.

The classic Heritage Rajputana (£42 for two) features signature dishes due to appear on the restaurant menu including Mysore Bonda, Murge Makhani, Kasmiri Lamb, Masala Aloo and Dal Makhani.

Vegetarian and vegan diners are well catered for with dedicated at home menus for both available (£38 for two).

For a taste of holiday from home, the luxurious Costal Sack (£45.95) comes straight from the ocean – expect Masala Seabass, Prawn Curry, Grilled Salmon and everything else you need for a feast to remember.

Each of the set menus also includes regional breads, rice, chutneys and sides. There’s also a rather extensive a la carte menu, with dishes such as spiced potato dumplings, mustard and coconut flavoured mixed seafood cake and paneer stuffed with pickle and spices.

There’s so much more to explore with Heritage and I for one, can’t wait.

Heritage 101 Rosendale Road, West Dulwich, SE21 8EZ

Big Mike’s Calypso Kitchen has pulled out all the stops to create an indulgent and truly memorable menu fit for celebrating mums in the only way he knows how – with a range of dishes that give “a small taste of Barbados, a big taste of the Caribbean,” as he likes to say.

Delivery or collection is available from the Boxpark Croydon restaurant from today to March 14.

Starters like Bajan Fish Cakes – an award-winning recipe of salted cod, Scotch bonnet chilli and herbs, encased in a light tempura batter and fried until golden brown and served with house made – Jerk and Twerk hot sauce.

Golden Wings, marinated and brined for 24 hours, deep fried and served with rum and Scotch bonnet chilli jam.

Posh Patties – handcrafted with a variety of fillings including beef chilli and kidney bean, and lentil, mushroom and feta, and Vegan Chicken bites – Cajun seasoned jackfruit goujons, double dipped in corn starch and fried, complete this line up.

For main course, there’s Bajan Brown Stew Chicken, Roast Pork Belly, Dhal Puri Roti – filled with Scallop and Shrimp Coconut Curry, and Corn and Coffee Curry (VG).

Accompanying side dishes include rice and peas, fried plantain, chickpea mash, roast parsnips, roast sweet potato, baby spinach, blanched samphire, lashings of gravy and of course, coleslaw.

And for a sweet finish, choose between Bajan Coconut Sweet Bread, Caramel Crunch Cheesecake, Bajan Rum Cake (blonde and chocolate available), Rum & Raisin poached pear (VG).

Order from www.bigmikesck.com/indulgence-menu or call 020 8680 0999.

And you won’t just be feeding mum and the rest of the family. The restaurant will donate one meal to Croydon’s homeless, for every meal ordered by customers, as part of its work with Croydon Nightwatch, helping to feed the homeless every fortnight as part of its Challenge 100 Focus initiative.