46 Plaistow Lane,
Bromley,
London,
BR1 3PA
(020) 8289 0322
The ViewLondon Review
Everyone needs a bit of culture. Especially when it’s so deliciously delivered in a delightful venue by charming staff.
The Venue
The building in which Cinnamon Culture now resides used to be a pub called The Crown. But you would never know it. A clean, bright and lofty space, Cinnamon Culture is all black and cream, with an open bar area and huge windows that flood the restaurant with light. There is also a garden with barbecue area, should the weather be willing.
The Atmosphere
Sometimes, you find a restaurant where you really feel you are the star of the show. The staff at Cinnamon Culture are enthusiastic and they dance attendance, without being intrusive. You feel nothing is too much trouble. A relaxed table of young parents with small children is thoughtfully seated some way from other diners and, although the restaurant is not busy, there is a contented ambience as everyone tucks into Cinnamon Culture’s brand of Indian cuisine.
The Food
This is where the fun starts. Certainly, you'll find many traditional Indian favourites on the menu — but with a difference. Poppadoms appear, with three dipping sauces. As well as the usual mango, there is a pineapple version, which is not as sweet as you might expect, and one with tamarind, the sharp-sour pod contrasting nicely with the light, crispy flatbread.
Among the starters are scallops, which come enrobed in a light little bit of filo (£7.55). As you crackle through the outer layers, you will find just-translucent bivalves, whose sweetness is offset beautifully by the pastry. Another well worth trying is the ostrich — yes, ostrich — marinated in saffron and spices (£7.95). The tender meat has a surprisingly delicate flavour and, complemented by a nicely judged drizzle of sunshine-yellow mango and ruby-red beetroot sauces, needs no further adornment.
The honey-mustard duck, served with South Indian rice noodles (£13.75) is another one that impresses. The duck is beautifully moist and served just pink, while the honey-mustard sauce is light, and neither it nor the spice in the noodles overpowers. There's a bigger kick in the lamb biryani (£13.95) and the velvet-soft meat is served with rice and vegetables in a traditional 'dum'. All that's then required is some cheese and garlic naan to mop up all the juices, and spinach with mushroom (£5.50) to satisfy the five-a-day zealots.
The Drink
While cocktails may not be the obvious choice before tucking into Indian food, Cinnamon Culture’s selection is worth a look. The Ginger Champagne - a mix of bubbles, vodka and the spicy root - is fresh and zingy, with small pieces of ginger suspended therein. A Cinnamon Martini boasts spiced vodka, lime juice and Cointreau, while the orange liqueur also finds its way into a Pear and Cardomam Sidecar, with cognac, lemon juice, pear and cardamom syrup. The eponymous house cocktail mixes bourbon, lemon and apple juice, cinnamon (of course), syrup and angostura bitters. Cocktails are priced between £7.25 and £8.95.
Cinnamon Culture’s extensive wine list offers several very quaffable wines by the glass, including a zesty Acacia Tree chenin blanc/colombard from South Africa at £4.25 and a crisp Argentine Piropo pinot blanc at £4.50. But there are plenty of good wines by the bottle, too, including a Chilean Sauvignon Blanc at £16.50 (also available by the glass) and a rich Chilean Pinot Noir at £23. There is also a delightfully named Boom Boom Syrah from Oregon, which is tempting to order just for its moniker, but at £35 a bottle perhaps not.
The Last Word
If the happy murmurs of fellow diners are anything to go by, Cinnamon Culture is soon to usurp the area’s leading Indian restaurants. It is, indeed, a jewel in what was The Crown.
Cinnamon Culture has been reviewed by 19 users