TAPAS STYLE INDIAN LUNCH
Monday & Thursday 12 PM - 3.00 PM - Last Order: 2:30 PM
Friday - Sunday 12 PM - 4.30 PM - Last Order: 4:00 PM​
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Our Lunch menu consists of a variety of small plates made up of tapas style dishes. You can order any one dish or a selection of dishes to enjoy on your own or share with friends, family or work colleagues. Our menu is also designed in a way that enables our guests to sample a wide range of dishes before making bookings for a more elaborate a la carte style evening dinner experience.
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This menu suits diners who are dining on their own, in twos or in big groups. Our service style for lunch is more casual and does not follow a three course sequence. Essentially, the dishes are served as soon as they are ready. Biryanis, dosas and thalis are bigger dishes more like main courses.
Vegetarian / Vegan dishes
​VADA PAV £8.95
Vada pav is an iconic street food burger style dish from Mumbai. It consists of a soft brioche style bun filled with a chickpea flour and delicious chutneys.
Allergen advice: Directly contains: - Gluten, Milk, Mustard (Ask for vegan option)
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KOLKATA VEGETABLE CHOP, CHUTNEYS 2 PCS £6.95
Also known as beet chops- These is a popular street food dish from the streets of Kolkata.
(Allergen : Gluten)
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COCONUT SHELL VEGETABLE IDLI, SAMBAR, COCONUT CHUTNEY 1PCS £7.95
Idli is a rice based steamed pancake with spiced vegetables .(Ask for vegan option).
(Allergen : Mustard,milk)
POPPY SEEDS (POSTO) AND COCONUT PATTY, MANGO CHUTNEY 2PCS £5.95
(Vegan) (Allergen : Gluten,mustard, )
SEASONAL VEGETABLE CIGAR, TOMATO AND GARLIC CHUTNEY 1PCS £5.95
(Allergen : Mustard, gluten)
PANI POORI 4 PCS £4.95
(Allergen: Gluten)
MUSHROOM GUJIYA, RED LENTIL AND TOMATO SAUCE 2PCS £6.95
(Allergen : Gluten , mustard )
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CRISPY OKRA £6.95
(Allergen:None)
INDIAN NAAN STYLE FLAT BREADS £5.95
Plain/garlic coriander/ chilli/ sundried tomatoes and rosemary
(Allergen: Gluten )
PLAIN PARATHA BREAD £3.95
(Allergen: Gluten )
STUFFED POTATO PARATHA BREAD, YOGURT RAITA £4.95
(Allergen: Gluten, mustard, dairy )
STUFFED ONION AND PEPPER PARATHA BREAD, YOGURT RAITA £4.95
(Allergen: Gluten, mustard, dairy)
BLACK CHICKPEA, POTATO KACHORI CHAAT, ASSORTED CHUTNEYS, YOGHURT, FRESH COCONUT AND POMEGRANATE £9.95
Kachoris are the king among Indian street food dishes and are seen in different forms and variants throughout India
(Allergen: Gluten, dairy)
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CRISPY ONION BHAJI WITH CORIANDER CHUTNEY 3PCS £7.95 (Allergen: Mustard)
Meat Dishes
BHUNA STYLE PORK RIBS £10.95
A Cook’s Tale speciality made of slow roasted pork shoulder infused with Indian and Chinese flavours.
(Allergen : None )
STIR FRIED PORK BELLY WITH VINDALOO SAUCE £11.95
(Allergen: Mustard)
GOAN STYLE SPICED SCOTCH QUAIL EGGS WITH CINNAMON ONION AND TOMATO SAUCE 2 PCS £8.95
(Allergen: Gluten, milk, egg)
LOCAL QUAIL, MANGO AND CHILLI CHUTNEY £9.95
(Allergen: Mustard )
WILD DUCK TERRINE, BHUNA SAUCE & CORIANDER GARLIC NAAN £11.95
(Allergen: Soya , mustard )
VENISON KEBAB, SUNDRIED AND ROSEMARY BREAD, MINT AND CORIANDER CHUTNEY , MANGO AND ONION SALAD £10.95
(Allergen: Gluten, milk)
LAMB CUTLET, FRESH SALAD AND CORIANDER CHUTNEY £11.95
(Allergen: none)
PULLED LAMB CIGAR, FRESH SALAD, CHILLI GARLIC MAYO 1PCS £10.95
(Allergen: Gluten, dairy)
CRISPY CHICKEN CUTLET WITH A MINT AND YOGHURT RAITA AND FRESH SALAD 2PCS £8.95
(Allergen: Dairy, gluten, egg)
BENGALI CHICKEN PUFF, SALAD, BUTTER CHICKEN SAUCE 1 PCS £7.95
(Allergen : Gluten, mustard, milk)
Seafood Dishes
SEAFOOD CUTLET, TOMATO AND GARLIC CHUTNEY 2PCS £8.95
(Allergen : Gluten, Crustacean, Egg, Fish, Mollusc, Mustard)
CATCH OF THE DAY, SPINACH, KERALA STYLE COCONUT SAUCE £10.95
We have drawn inspiration from a traditional Kerala recipe called fish moilee.
(Allergen : Fish, Dairy, Mustard, Mollusc ,Crustaceans)
TIGER PRAWN GRILLED IN A SEAFOOD MARINADE, TAMARIND CHUTNEY £10.95
These prawns are coated in a marinade of mustard, ginger and aromatic spices and then lightly grilled. They are mild to medium in flavour.
(Allergen: Crustacean, Mustard)
SOFT SHELL CRAB, CRAB RAITA, PICKLED SAMPHIRE £9.95
These delicious crabs are caught in the warm waters of the Indian rivers, they are a rare delicacy and are only
harvested three months in a year.
(Allergen : Crustaceans, Mollusc, Fish, Mustard, Gluten)
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COD STEAMED IN BANANA LEAF 2PCS £9.95
(Allergen: Mustard)
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TILAPIA PAKORAS WITH MUSTARD MAYO 3 PCS £8.95
(Allergen: Dairy )
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CHARCOAL SMOKED MACKAREL KEBAB, ONION, TOMATO SALAD £11.95
(Allergen : Gluten, Crustacean, Egg, Fish, Mollusc, Mustard)
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CRAB SAMOSA, SWEET CHILLI DIP £7.95
(Allergen : Gluten, Crustacean, Egg, Fish, Mollusc, Mustard)
Dosai
A thin and crispy South Indian crepe, made using a rice and lentil batter, filled with a variety of savoury fillings (selection below).
Served with a lentil soup called sambar and an assortment of chutneys.
(Allergens: Celery, Milk, Mustard, Egg) (Ask for vegan)
Choose From:
DOSAS FOR 1: MASALA POTATO - £18.95 SPINACH - £19.95 CHICKEN - £22.95 LAMB - £24.95
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Thali
A Thali refers to an indian style meal made up of various small tapas style dishes served on a round platter. (Allergens change on a daily basis)
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VEGETARIAN THALI - 24.95
Butter Paneer, black chickpea masala, Bengali roast potatoes with poppy seeds, lentils, seasonal roast vegetables, cumin rice, paratha, poppadom’s, salad, onion bhaji, crispy okra, raita, vegetable chop, homemade pickle.
VEGAN THALI - 24.95
Smoked Aubergine mash, black chickpea masala, Bengali roast potatoes with poppy seeds, lentils, seasonal roast vegetables, cumin rice, paratha, poppadom’s, salad, onion bhaji, crispy okra, vegetable chop, coriander chutney, homemade pickle
SEAFOOD THALI - 29.95
Kerala Style Prawn and squid, grilled sea bass, crab cake, soft shell crab, lentils, Bengali roast potatoes with poppy seeds, seasonal roasted vegetables, cumin rice, paratha, poppadom’s, crispy salad, raita, homemade pickles
MEAT THALI - 28.95
Butter chicken, lamb shoulder on the bone, lamb kebab, chicken cutlet, Bengali roast potatoes with poppy seeds, seasonal roasted vegetables, lentils, paratha, cumin rice, poppadom’s, crispy salad, raita, homemade pickles
Extra sides: Fresh poppadom’s with seasonal fruit chutney £4.95 Cumin rice £3.95 Aubergine mash £4.95 Bengali fondant potatoes £5.95 Spinach lentils £5.95 Black chickpea masala £5.95 Assorted pickles and chutneys £3.95
Biryanis
We cook our chicken and lamb on the bone as it is traditional and more flavourful.
CHICKEN BIRYANI - £24.95
Butter chicken sauce with seasonal vegetables, yoghurt raita.
Allergen advice. Directly contains: - Gluten, milk, mustard
LAMB BIRYANI - £26.95
Cinnamon-flavoured lamb sauce with seasonal vegetables, yoghurt raita.
Allergen advice. Directly contains: - Gluten, milk, mustard
SEAFOOD BIRYANI - £29.95
South Indian style sauce with sauteed spinach, and yoghurt raita.
Allergen advice. Directly contains: - Gluten, milk, mustard
VEGETABLE BIRYANI - £21.95
Seasonal vegetables and paneer, lentil dahl, yoghurt raita.
Allergen advice. Directly contains: - Gluten, milk, mustard
​​Desserts
Creamy
ROSE AND VANILLA CRÈME BRULEE £10.95
Served with fresh fruit. An exotic twist to a classical French dessert with a subtle hint of rose and Madagascan vanilla.
Allergen advice: Directly contains: - Egg, Milk
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LEMON BAVAROIS £9.95
Served with mango coulis and fresh fruit. An excellent palate cleanser after a flavoursome and spicy meal. Star anise adds depth and complexity of flavour to this tangy citrusy French pudding.
Allergen advice: Directly contains: - Milk,egg
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SPANISH SAFFRON, MADAGASCAN VANILLA AND COCONUT CHEESECAKE £10.95
Served with seasonal fruit coulis and fresh fruit. This is our twist on a classic cheese cake. Not too sweet. Creamy with hints of saffron.
Allergen advice: Directly contains: - Milk, Gluten
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24 CARAT GOLD JUMBO GULAB JAMUN, SERVED WITH A CREAMY CARDAMOM AND WHITE CHOCOLATE SAUCE £12.95
Classic dessert from the Indian subcontinent flavoured with cardamom and rose.
Allergen advice: Directly contains: - Milk, Gluten
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INDIAN DESSERT PLATTER £14.95
Served with chocolate samosa, rasgulla, and mango kulfi
Allergen advice: Directly contains: - Milk, Gluten
Chocolatey
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CHOCOLATE PLATTER £12.95
A selection of our popular chocolate desserts. This is one not to be missed by chocoholics!
Chocolate cake, chocolate samosa, dark chocolate,chilli and cardamom ice cream. Served with white and chocolate sauce and fresh fruit.
Allergen advice: Directly contains: - Gluten, Milk, Egg, Soya
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CHOCOLATE SAMOSAS £10.95
Served with fresh berry ice cream, chocolate sauce and fresh fruit. Handcrafted by our dessert chefs, these moreish nuggets of sweet pastry and milk chocolate were introduced to Kent by us in 2005.
Allergen advice: Directly contains: - Gluten, Milk, Egg,Soya
Parfait/sorbet/ice cream
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MANGO KULFI £9.95
Served with mango puree and fresh fruit
It is a traditional Indian Ice cream. Every region has its own flavour and speciality. It is a popular choice during the hot and sweltering Indian summer months.
Allergen advice: Directly contains: - Milk
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FRESH SEASONAL BERRY PARFAIT £9.95
Allergen advice: Directly contains: - Milk,
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ORANGE BLOSSOM ICE CREAM £9.95
Allergen advice: Directly contains: - Milk
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DARK CHOCOLATE, CHILLI AND CARDAMOM ICE CREAM £9.95
Allergen advice: Directly contains: - Milk, soya
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VEGAN WARM SEMOLINA HALWA CAKE WITH ORANGE BLOSSOM ICE CREAM AND VEGAN HOT CHOCOLATE £12.95
A twist on a traditional delicacy made from semolina during all popular festivals in the Indian subcontinent.Vegan
Allergen advice: Directly contains: - Gluten,soya
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"Wonderful time and lunch with friends. Lunch with friends at this place was fabulous. They offer vegan and vegetarian options. The food arrived quickly and it was tasty. Friendly staff and refreshing cocktails. Good location of the restaurant as well. We will be back."
Vufik Vasken
Tripadvisor 13 Sep 23
"Enjoyable food full of flavour. Exceptional customer service. Highly recommended. Fantastic Indian restaurant that left a lasting impression on us. We were greeted by a warm and welcoming lady. The lady who served us was not only knowledgeable about the menu but also incredibly attentive to our needs. She guided us through the diverse dishes, making excellent recommendations based on our preferences. The food was extremely tasty. The flavours were authentic and unforgettable. We will be back"
MyAntony12
Tripadvisor Sep 23
"Lovely unexpected experience. Ashar served us yesterday evening, we went for a quick eat just before we went on a ghost tour. She was very informative and had a good recommendation for us as we haven’t tried much Indian dishes. She was prompt and very knowledgeable plus she gave us a proper service explaining us how to eat the food to enjoy the full experience. She is a star, thank you so much for the experience. Will be back!"
Pirvur2021
Aug 2023
"Delicious food and fab service We’ve eaten here twice in recent months and each time the food has been delicious! The first time we had the set lunch, and then last night the Bottomless Thali.
Both have been fab; flavoursome and tasty.
The staff and service is great too. Ashar, the manager, in particular is brilliant and an asset to the restaurant. I’d highly recommend The Cook’s Tale, and plan to return again soon!"
HannahC1984
Aug 2023