The Painted Heron

The Painted Heron has been recommended to us so many times by so many diners that we are happy to now recommend it to you. Winner of a big restaurant award early in its career, The Painted Heron is a charming and original Indian restaurant tucked away on an unassuming corner of deepest Chelsea. Head chef Yogesh Datta uses the freshest of seasonal ingredients in his innovative dishes, so the menu changes daily.

The dining room is light and airy, a series of interconnecting spaces on different levels that are dotted with interesting English artwork, and the clientele tend to be food-lovers of all kinds, but especially the grownup Chelsea set. We can vouch for the starter of crab with red onion and chilli in dosa pancake, the main course of double lamb chops tandoor roasted with mint, the peas and baby corn in fenugreek curry, the nutty naan, and the ginger ice cream. The wine list is pretty terrific with more than thirty available by the glass.