The Great Indian is a welcoming neighbourhood restaurant and gastropub on Marlborough Road near Archway. Its kitchen draws on regional Indian cooking while introducing modern combinations and carefully selected British produce. The menu is designed to suit everything from drinks with a few small plates to a generous dinner built around dishes from the tandoor and several curries for the table.
Small plates bring together Punjabi samosa, samosa papdi chaat and Tangra chilli paneer with smoked poppadums served beside tomato and date chutney. Chicken lollipops and sticky pork ribs add richer choices, while paneer tikka, malai chicken tikka and duck seekh kebab show the range of the tandoor. Marinades using cumin, mace, cream cheese and aromatic spices give the grilled dishes their distinctive depth.
The curry selection balances familiar comfort with regional character. Signature butter chicken combines smoked tomato, saffron and cream, while Punjabi lamb curry and Nilgiri bone in chicken curry offer bolder spice. Alleppey sea bass is cooked in a banana leaf with flavours associated with the southern coast, and meat free choices include dal makhani, coconut vegetable curry, baingan bharta, palak saag and paneer tawa masala.
Chicken and vegetable biryani provide complete rice based meals, with naan, roti, salad and raita available to round out a shared order. The restaurant also offers wine, beer and cocktails chosen to work with its layered spices. This mix of inventive starters, charcoal cooked specialities and slow cooked curries gives The Great Indian a broad menu without losing the focus of a local dining room.
Address: 139 Marlborough Road, Archway, London N19 4NU, United Kingdom