Taj Mahal

Walk into Taj Mahal on a Friday night and you'll find the place buzzing—locals tucking into tiffins, couples sharing plates, families commandeering tables. It's right there on High Street, unassuming but packed, which tells you everything. The kitchen knows what it's doing: your tikka masala arrives with actual depth, your naan is properly charred, your biryani doesn't taste like someone guessed at the spices. You're paying sensible money (mains around £9-13) for food that doesn't cut corners. It's the kind of place where the regulars have their usual, staff remember your name, and you can't get a table without booking on weekends.