Majliss

You'll find Majliss tucked into the Cowley Road strip, where it quietly holds its own amongst the neighbourhood's chaotic mix of student haunts and proper restaurants. This is the kind of place where the chef knows what they're doing: the spice levels aren't dumbed down, the menu respects regional Indian traditions, and they're not trying to reinvent the biryani. The room itself is unpretentious—no velvet elephants or mood lighting theatre—just solid cooking and attentive service that makes you want to come back.