Neil Littman on why Anokhi in Winchmore Hill is his favourite local curry house
On a cold damp Monday evening in November, after deciding to give the Masterchef finals a miss, I visited Anokhi in Winchmore Hill Broadway, which has been open since 2019.
This was the first time I have eaten there, having ordered takeaways from them during the pandemic lockdown. My invited guest had a cold, so I went on my own. Undaunted and hungry, I made the effort and was surprised by how busy they were for the beginning of the week.
At one table alone, a party of 14 were already settled in (for a work leaving do apparently) and other tables were occupied, in addition to a steady stream of home deliveries.
Anokhi means ‘unique’ in Punjabi – an appropriate description as it turned out – and the restaurant is a bright star in the area, with award-winning chef Ray at the helm (evidenced by a large gold cup on top of their counter which I initially mistook for a football trophy).
Ray’s experience includes working at Michelin-starred establishments such as La Porte Des Indies in Marble Arch, which features palm trees and a waterfall! Anokhi’s interior, by contrast, is less gimmicky, with clean lines and a mural on one wall.
Anokhi offers dishes from several regions in India and a changing menu throughout the year, though this meant my favourite duck curry was not available. I was also impressed to see a menu offering dishes that I had not heard of before, demonstrating they are prepared to take risks with a non-formulaic approach.
There is a decent wine list, but I stuck to a small Cobra beer and a poppadom and ordered a starter of panner potli. On the plate were four wraps of filo pastry and inside each was spiced paneer cheese with a marinade on the side. They looked like those nibbles you only buy at Christmas from M&S, but the taste of the paneer mix was not something you would get ready-prepared.
From the main courses, I ordered chicken rezala, their version of a popular Bengali dish. The original recipe includes cream and nuts but as a nod to those with allergies, Anokhi avoids serving dishes with nuts. I also ordered channa masala (spiced chickpeas), pilau rice and a chapati which looked like two servings but was simply very large and homemade.
Newer items on the menu include hara gujarat (vegetable cutlets), aloo mutter tikki (pan-fried savoury potato patties) and golden crab cakes, which they have adapted as a house special. They also have an extensive vegetarian menu.
Overall, I think Anokhi are offering the best Indian food in Enfield, and the service is good considering how busy there were on the evening I dined there. My bill came to £35 including drinks and service.
Anokhi Indian Restaurant can be found at 757 Green Lanes, Winchmore Hill N21 3SA and is open Monday-Thursday 5.30pm-10.30pm, Fridays and Saturdays 5.30pm-11pm, and Sundays 5.30pm-10pm. To book:
Call 020 8360 4144
Visit anokhi-restaurant.co,uk
No news is bad news
Independent news outlets like ours – reporting for the community without rich backers – are under threat of closure, turning British towns into news deserts.
The audiences they serve know less, understand less, and can do less.
If our coverage has helped you understand our community a little bit better, please consider supporting us with a monthly, yearly or one-off donation.
Choose the news. Don’t lose the news.
Monthly direct debit
Annual direct debit
£5 per month supporters get a digital copy of each month’s paper before anyone else, £10 per month supporters get a digital copy of each month’s paper before anyone else and a print copy posted to them each month. £50 annual supporters get a digital copy of each month's paper before anyone else.
More information on supporting us monthly or yearly
More Information about donations