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Categories: Indian, Vegetarian [Edit]
55 Stoke Newington Church StHackney
London N16 0AR
020 7249 0344
- Hours:
Mon-Thu, Sun 18:00 - 22:30
Fri-Sat 18:00 - 23:30
- Attire:
- Casual
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Price Range:
-
££
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Good for Children:
- Yes
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- No
- Take Away:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Good For:
- Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Beer & Wine Only
9 reviews for Rasa Vegetarian
All Reviews
Rasa is my favourite Indian restaurant. I have not always been a fan of Indian meals, having a sensitivity to some of the spices, so have always been a bit reluctant to venture into Indian restaurants.
Rasa however was a totally different experience. When I moved into the area a couple of years ago I wandered Church street checking the menus at the abundance of restaurants. Rasa stood out to me with some delicious sounding dishes.
My boyfriend was the reluctant one this time being a big meat eater but after our first visit he was converted. I can never decide what I want because it all sounds so good so we always share a selection of dishes, all at very reasonable prices. We always get greedy though and end up with far too much.
The best thing is you leave feeling wonderfully full of deliciously flavoured, wholesome and healthy food.
'Helloooo.... anybody there? I'm hungry. Can I order?'
I really want to love this place, with all my heart I do. It's in a brilliant place in London, it serves fantastic veggie food and it's PINK! What more could you ask from a curry house.
I came here with my 2 flat mates for our alternative Christmas dinner, before we all headed of in our different family directions for the holidays. We booked a few days before and actually went in to speak with the fella, a very nice helpful fella at that! The place smelt amazing and was really cute inside, perfect for a party or group dining.
When we arrived on the day we booked it all started to go down hill a little. Firstly, they weren't expecting us, someone had to actually run out back and get us another table. The place was really busy and it was a genuine mistake so we were grateful to be given a spot. As we sat we waited about 10 minutes for menus and the 40 minutes just to have our drinks orders taken. It was hot and full of people eating curry and I was getting more frustrated by the second. After almost 2 hours of waiting we got our food which really was fantastic. We had a selection of starters and main dishes and it was quite rich but really different and a nice change from a normal curry.
Seriously, this place could destroy some other businesses in the area if it got it's act together. Mmmmm.... Maybe I'll have curry for dinner tonight.
I love Rasa and was delighted to discover it because I've been sorely disappointed by so many of the Indian restaurants in London. Even better that Rasa is not too expensive, completely vegetarian and serves subtly spiced Keralan cuisine. The flavours tend to be provided more by tropical flavours such as coconut and banana than by any overpowering chilli, so its safe for those of a more delicate palate. The staff are very nice and seem used to patiently explaining what each dish is. On my first visit, I was extremely impressed that our waiter actually recommended us to reduce our order by about a third because we would simply have too much. The menu's prices suggest that the dishes are small but they are anything but. Highly recommended.
Take note that unlisted in the opening hours are the opportunity for lunch at the weekends - noon until 3pm on Saturday and Sundays.
People had told me good things about Rasa but being such a carnivore I was never too excited about the prospect of eating in this vegetarian hot spot. Now I know the Rasa way I realise how naive and silly I was back then.
It wasn't our plan to visit Rasa but we were drawn in by the impressive crowds and great smell breaking what was otherwise a bitterly cold and dull Monday night in December. I decided that if it was managing to get this many people in on Monday it must be doing something right. Now I know that in fact Rasa does everything right. Prices are incredibly cheap with everything on the menu costing between £3-5. The waiter was incredibly charming and very proud of the dishes he was serving us. He advised us to share the Aubergine Fritters which were really tasty, although perhaps slightly unnecessary given that we struggled to finish our mains afterwards. I have to apologise because I can't remember any of the Indian names so I'll just say that my tomato and yoghurt curry was delicious and that the lemon rice went with it beautifully.
My only negative was that we were seated next to the fridge and so received a sharp blast of cold air every time anyone ordered another beer. This is definitely not enough to hold me back from a repeat visit but it will make me a little wiser about choosing my table.
Possibly the best Indian restaurant in London. It is possible to argue this. The friendly service is only the beginning. Where Rasa excels is in its food.
As a vegetarian (and Indian food-lover) I thought I'd died and gone to heaven when I discovered Rasa. This was a long time ago, and I've been attending as often as I can ever since.
For a start, the aubergine curry will, hands down, be the best you've ever tasted. If you deny this to be the case, then you are either:
a) lying
or
b) a few pence short of the quid
And as for the side dishes, starters and the rest of the mains, it is difficult to summarise. Suffice to say, you will not be disappointed. I never am. The menu seems to naturally evolve, with subtle changes now and again. And the prices seem to have been brought right down. Some dishes used to be a bit unreasonable (and if that was still the case, you wouldn't be looking at the five stars above).
Like all Rasas this place is great. And the range of vegetarian dishes is outstanding - but that's the problem. Meateaters and vegetarians DO sometimes eat together - and why should one suffer at the expense of the other?
This place would get 5 stars if it didn't restrict my choice.
The branch over the road serves meat, but doesn't offer the ambience - or a wide range of vegetarian food. So vegetarians aren't happy. But in this branch, it's meat eaters that suffer. Come on guys - get one restaurant (even if it has two kitchens) and make all of your customers happy.
Believe all the hype and good reviews, Rasa is amazing. I went for my first time about a month ago to celebrate something... I can't remember what it was, I probably just wanted an excuse to pay this place a visit. I am a big fan of South Indian and I have to say that this is the best I've had in London. My partner and I shared a mixed selection of dips for a starter, which was an incredible amount of food for a very small amount of money.
The main courses are quite big, notably the pancakes that resemble a trumpet in their shape and size. The food was all of an amazing quality, and I quickly realized why it was so busy. My only reservation, and the reason I did not give it 5 stars, is the fact that the waiters forgot our water a couple of times. I know that is only a small thing, but I guess that means the place must be great if that was the only problem.
After dining at Rasa, going to any other Indian restaurant in London, now seems pointless. This is without doubt the best curry I have ever eaten in London.
This is not curry for the drunken masses- there is no lurid mango chutney or greasy naan breads in sight. Instead, Rasa serves up the most delicious and subtle Kerala vegetable and fish curries, which should be mopped up with a few of their incredible parathas (I recommend at least two per person) I have tried pretty much everything on the menu and the only thing that slightly disappoints me is that it costs £5 for pappadoms and chutneys. They are delicious but they cost more than the main dishes, which seems quite steep.
Like its menu, the service too is impeccable- I have probably eaten there no more than 6 times in the last year, yet the waiters know exactly which wine, starters and main course I like. I love everything about Rasa- even its gaudy pink décor.
The only reason this restaurant will miss out on a five star review is for its authentic subcontinental music (to each their own) - the food is as good as it gets! Rasa is a chain of restaurants owned by a South India Chef, Das Sreedharan, who has written several successful cookbooks on Indian dishes. This vegetarian branch is the original, and possibly the best of the lot.
Light and healthy on your stomach as well as your wallet, this restaurant has won a loyal crowd of regulars in the area. The Rasa Travancore, specializing in seafood, is just across the street - a handy alternative for busy evenings on the weekend. But be warned, it does not serve the the Bagar Bainga - a creamy yogurt dish of aubergines cooked with almonds - which is hands down the tastiest vegetarian dish served in London. I'm not even a big fan of aubergines! From my favorite main course dishes (Yes, I've tried everything on the menu!) is the Nair Dosa, with vegetables wrapped in a rice and lentil pancake and bursting with flavor. This is a good dish to try for those with sensitive stomachs to heavy Indian spices. From the curries, the Thakkali, Bagar Bainga, and Cheera Parippu never fail to satisfy with their delicate balance of texture and flavor. Try with some Tamarind or Lemon rice, or spongy Appam rice pancakes.
Rasa also hosts a festival of South Indian food, and holds cooking classes for those eager to try their hand at becoming the next Das in the kitchen. They don't deliver food unfortunately, but have a takeaway menu available. It opens at 6pm on weekdays, and noon on weekends. Try one of their other branches in London, or come to Stoke Newington for the original and best!
