Priya - Walthamstow

5:20pm Wednesday 16th January 2008

YOU wouldn't think so as you walk past, but Priya restaurant is a pretty big place.

The Sri Lakan and South Indian restaurant was packed out on the Friday evening when I wandered into its cool dark-blue interior and I worried that there wasn't going to be any space.

However we were led upstairs to a large seating area, and just managed to squeeze in. Clearly, this is a popular place in Walthamstow.

Once seated we examined the menu. I couldn't resist ordering the Varuval as my starter, which was endearingly translated as "Lamb tossed with onion".

My partner ordered the equally puzzling Ulunthu Vadai (£1.50) and we had a side of one Dosai (£2.25) - a type of crepe made from lentils. Nevertheless, despite being rather unsure of what we had ordered it was all delicious when it arrived, just minutes later.

Indeed, throughout the evening the service was excellent - our waiter kept his distance but was always there the instant we needed him.

One word of warning though - my Varuval (one of the more expensive starters on the menu at £5.95) was incredibly spicy, even though I had asked for medium'.

Nevertheless buried amongst the chunks of chilli and fried onion was a large helping of tasty lamb.

The mains were all very reasonably priced, most between £4 and £7, but rice is not included. My partner had the Chicken Madras (£4.75) which was succulently tender and aromatic, and was just the right level of spiciness for our own admittedly feeble chilli tolerance levels.

I had the crab curry (£6.95) which was piled on generously, but no extra implements were provided for wrestling the recalcitrant flesh from its shell armour plating. Yet, it was still wonderfully flavoured.

The only culinary disappointment was dessert. The rather ambitiously-named Fantastica' (£3.75) was clearly straight out of the freezer, but we didn't mind too much as it was the perfect way to cool off after the still-lingering spiciness of my starter.

Overall though the food was great. Priya is clearly not a typical run-of-the-mill curry house, and a great addition to the diversity of places to eat in Walthamstow.

Priya,
256 Hoe Street,
Walthamstow,
London,
E17

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