Go Punjabi in Finchley

This review was first published in December 1999

A helpful reader wrote to recommend REGENTS PUNJABI RESTAURANT, pointing out that, with the exception of Rani, the Finchley area was "not over-blessed with good Indian restaurants." He went on to praise the "zingy, well-judged spicing." We went to Regents on a cold night when either more customers or more radiators were needed to warm up the large, brightly lit room. Lines of tables seemed to anticipate large parties, something the menu, with dishes such as whole chicken maji maji and leg of lamb designed for sharing, seems well designed for.

Regents is run by a young and attractive team. We know that the chef is called Tony from his message of intent that fronts the menu, reminiscent in parts of the East African Asian lists more commonly found in the Ealing Road district of Wembley. Cassava root chips with chilli sauce, paneer tikka and Tony's take on barbecued chicken wings called Chinese-fried chicken wings were good starters.

In the main course Rara lamb, a drycooked dish, was indeed hauntingly spiced and quite superb, absolute vindication for my correspondent's enthusiasm. However, butter chicken was equally startling in its awfulness. Given the quality of the other dishes tried of cheese and peas and pilau rice, I think it was probably an aberration. Garlic prawns and lamb keema with its own special masala are favourites of my Finchley mole.

I shall go back to try them in warmer weather or with 10 people in tow.

Regents Punjabi Restaurant
241 Regent's Park Road, Finchley, N3