Dhaba

You're heading down Lodge Road towards the city centre when Dhaba pulls you in with the kind of welcome that makes you feel like a regular on visit one. It's unpretentious in the best way: the sort of place where they're genuinely interested in what you actually want to eat rather than pushing the fanciest thing on the menu. The kitchen does North Indian classics with real skill—we're talking properly spiced curries, breads that matter, and the kind of attention to detail you don't always find outside of London. It's got soul without trying too hard, the kind of neighbourhood spot that makes you wonder why you don't come more often.