South Indian veggie - the original and genuine

Rasa has built up a formidable reputation for outstanding South Indian vegetarian cooking, but as well as great food, you'll find that the staff are friendly and helpful, and the atmosphere is uplifting.

Inside, everything is pink (napkins, tablecloths, walls), gold ornaments dangle from the ceiling, and a colourful statue of Krishna playing the flute greets you at the entrance.

Rasa's proprietor and most of the kitchen staff come from Cochin in Kerala.

As you'd expect, booking is essential.

This is one occasion when the set meal - or 'Kerala feast'- may be the best, as well as the easiest, option.

But however you approach a Rasa meal, everything is a taste sensation.

Even the pappadoms are a surprise: try the selection served with six home-made chutneys.

If you're going your own way, there are lots of starters to choose from.

Mysore bonda is delicious, shaped like a meatball but made of potato spiced with ginger, coriander and mustard seeds; or there is kathrikka, slices of aubergine served with fresh tomato chutney.

The main dishes are good, too.

Cheera parippu curry is made with fresh spinach, and toor dal with a touch of garlic; moru kachiathu combines mangoes and green bananas with chilli and ginger.

Or go for a dosa (paper-thin crisp pancakes).

Masala dosa is packed with potatoes and comes with lentil sauce and coconut chutney.

Puddings sound hefty, but arrive in mercifully small portions; the pal payasam is a rice pudding made with cashew nuts and raisins.

A fine end to a meal.

Rasa
Stoke Newington Church Street, London, N16 0AR