Scarlet offers a modern take on Indian cuisine and is situated in the most excellent Spitalfield Market. Unfortunately if it’s a good, authentic curry you’re after, you’re in the wrong place.

The Venue
Spitalfield Market and its surrounding streets are so popular with TV and film companies that at times it almost feels like being on set. The Apprentice? Check. Most Haunted? Check. The chances of Gok Wan shimmying into view shouting about how he can make the cheap clothes from the stalls look better than designer brands? Not quite check mate, but don’t rule it out.

Scarlet benefits from a prime position at one entrance (or exit, depending on which way you come in) of the market complex. The likes of Giraffe and Las Iguanas are the other tried and trusted neighbouring restaurant chains that pack in the City suits and shoppers in equal measure.

Scarlet sits at the quieter end to Giraffe and has a large outside patio space that is a major selling point on hot days. It’s peppered with lots of seating, exotic plants, spot lighting and huge upright gas heaters. It kind of exudes a continental, beach-style aesthetic, which is no bad thing.

Inside, it’s swish and upmarket. A mix of dark brown wood panels and cream seating is complimented by Venetian blinds and large candle lights suspended from the ceiling. Comparisons with the look of say Ping Pong are not far off the mark and the bar sits proudly at the back of the room with a huge selection of bottles on show.

The Atmosphere
Depending on the weather, what day of the week it is and how much money people have to spend at the market, the atmosphere can vary quite wildly at Scarlet. At a lunchtime sitting, with the sun beaming outside, expect a vibrant buzz from people enjoying working lunches and shoppers looking for a bargain.

You may even hear a loud jazz band strike up and enjoy the marvellous site of loads of old dears' dancing in the old fashioned way to the sounds of The Lady’s A Tramp. No we didn’t make this up, this actually does occur. The good natured proprietor of Scarlet may even apologise about the external noise, but perhaps its best to stifle the urge of telling him the music is the only redeeming feature of your visit.

The Food
Ahh, the food. It would be nice to report that it is amazing, authentic, awesome food as good as anywhere in the area (try Le Taj on Brick Lane for a much better modern Indian dinner). But, alas, it's impossible to say any of the above because it's very, very poor.

The menu is divided up into a la carte, express lunch deals and sharing platters. The lunch time (12pm-3.30pm) express comes in at a very reasonable £9.95, which includes a bento box of food, plus your choice of drink from a glass of wine, a bottle of beer or a soft drink. Canapes for four start at £19.50 and graduate to £39.50 for the seafood platter and mains are a fairly unadventurous mix of grills and classic curries (think bhuna, korma etc) and the more extravagant speciality fish (sea bass £18).

The Maharaja lunch comes recommended by the unobtrusive waiter, but when it arrives you will struggle to see why. While bento boxes are a common sight in Japanese or Thai restaurants, the use of them here has novelty value and it works in the respect that you get little portions of a few different things. To be honest if the food’s good, it can be served up in a fruit bowl, but as the food here is overwhelmingly bland it only adds to the disappointment.

The box is made up of 6 compartments, which is filled by: basmati rice, triangles of nan, roghan e nishat (chicken curry), chana limlu (spicy chickpea), yoghurt dip and a bhaji. While the rice is nicely fragrant and the bhaji passable, the real problems are with the chicken: it looks, smells and tastes like it could be bought from a supermarket curry counter and reheated at home. The chick pea is a tad better but really it’s not what you expect from a restaurant.

The Drink
While the food is expensive, the drinks really show Scarlet’s dedication to pumping up the prices. Bottles of white and red start at £18.50 and quickly escalate. A dependable Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc from New Zealand will set you back £29.50 and if you want a cheaper option, a Spanish Tempranillo is one of the easier options out of the reds at £18.50.

Cocktails again stress that their prices are over the going rate. Signature cocktails like the Scarlet Bite Bite - lime and lemongrass Smirnoff, fresh ginger, apple juice, sugar and Schnapps - costs £7.95 and champagne cocktails are a whopping £10.95. To share with work pals or maybe with your beloved after perusing the stalls, jugs can be purchased. For around £18.50 you can quaff through the likes of Pimm’s, Caipirinha and Sangria.

The Final Word
This venue boasts a very respectable decor and is in a great spot, but its diluted take on Indian cuisine means overall, it flatters to deceive.

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