City Spice is a typical Brick Lane curry house, specialising in a varied menu, keen service and some extra spicy options.

The Venue
You won’t miss City Spice among the plethora of curry restaurants on Brick Lane, with its bright pink neon sign and eager-to-welcome staff ushering you in from outside - as is the standard etiquette of this famous street. Inside the decor seems a little tired, with warm red walls, black and white photos of London, a few mirrors and a statue of a sari-dressed woman to greet you - another photo opportunity for tourists, perhaps.

The Atmosphere
As with most restaurants on Brick Lane, City Spice has a certain level of hustle and bustle at peak times and it feels very welcoming, making it perfect for chatting away to friends and family.

Waiters will be ready to welcome you - and quite formally too - helping you to your seat and placing your napkin in your lap so you're ready to eat. However, at times there are a lot of waiters on hand and it can feel as if they are always waiting for you to finish or order your next course - it does mean that service is quite speedy though.

The Food
Starters here are varied and full of flavour. The chicken tikka pakora (£3.50) comes recommended, with pieces of chicken baked in a tandoor oven before being encased in gram flour pastry; they're tangy and cooked perfectly. The aloo chop (£2.95) is good if you're after something a bit different - lamb is folded in spicy mashed potato, deep fried and served in a ball shape. The meat just pulls apart and has a great spicy flavour.

If you’re into hot, spicy curries, the chicken sylheti jalfrezi (£8.95) might be for you as it’s packed full of flavour and heat. The strips of chicken are succulent, and the flavour of the sauce (cooked to an authentic Bangladeshi recipe) is deep, rich and very hot. For a less spicy option, there’s the rajeshwari (£8.95) boasting an impressive sauce of coriander, green chilli, garlic, tomatoes and capsicum. The lamb rezala (£8.95) is again less spicy, made from a secret recipe with green chilli and yoghurt. Both of these sauces are packed with flavour (with garlic and green chilli really coming through) but the meat can be over-cooked and dry, which makes for a somewhat disappointing dish. Make sure you soak it all up with a garlic naan (really garlicky so not for first dates) or a paratha. Sides are priced about £2.25-£3.50 and there are also plenty of vegetarian options available - in fact most of the main meat options come with a vegetarian alternative, so vegetarians won’t be disappointed.

Desserts (around £3) are available and are pretty similar to many other Indian restaurants. For something a little soothing you could pick the pineapple ice cream, served in a pineapple skin - it’s creamy and almost yoghurty, but it is a big portion so you may want to share. There are also various other ice creams and pudding options for you to choose from, just don't expect anything particularly novel.

The Drink
There’s the usual wines and beers (house options are perfectly fine) available, but you might want to try a traditional lassi - a cold yoghurt drink perfect for helping you cope with any fiery spices, but it is very thick so it can be quite filling alongside a big meal. There are also other soft drinks available.

The Last Word
Head to City Spice for decent curries, tasty starters and an impressive variety of dishes. Even though there's so many similar places on Brick Lane, this one's still worth a visit if you're nearby.

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